Born of English descent in Fiji on October 5, 1942, to the late Lionel and Daphne Bintley, Judy passed away following her long battle with cancer on December 24, 2021, at Elders Inn in Alameda, CA. Judy is survived by her loving siblings Bruce Bintley and Tish Finlayson, niece Lisa Weir, niece Andrea Barton, niece Nicole Du Plessis, nephew James Bintley, nephew Mark Finlayson, stepson Gregory Smith, step-grandson Christopher Evan Smith, step great-grand daughter Victoria Rose Smith as well as 15 great nieces and nephews on her English side. Judy loved her family both here and abroad and will be dearly missed by all.
To everyone who knew Judy, she stood out as a “worldly woman”, raised in both Kenya and England during her primary schooling years, while also incorporating travels in Europe, Africa, and Asia throughout her adult life. This was especially true following her marriage to Gerald Smith in 1976. They both fed off one another and quenched their desire for knowledge, adventure and excitement throughout their marriage up until her husband’s passing in 2004. Even after Gerry’s death, Judy was committed to her yearly six week “vacation” to South Africa in order to be with family and friends which continued until she was no longer physically able to travel.
Professionally, Judy worked as an executive legal secretary for a large and prominent national and eventually international law firm – Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison – from the late 1960’s until her retirement just after the end of the century. She was highly regarded and respected for her technical skill and for her extraordinary talent in managing relations with the firm’s major clients, with court personnel and with counsel and staff with other law firms. She counted among her closest and long-time friends many of the firm’s most senior attorneys and staff all of whom mourn her passing.
Outside of her professional career, Judy’s passions in addition to travel, included reading, nature, cooking and gardening. She was also infatuated with the sciences, specifically the universe and its effect on our weather patterns. Her yearly Christmas requests always included the new Weather Calendar and the Farmer’s Almanac. Essentially, her thirst for knowledge and the answers as to the “why’s” of our existence was truly never ending.
Family and friends are invited to attend the Life Celebration on Wednesday February 16, 2022, at 11:00am at Greer Family Mortuary and Cremation Services, 2694 Blanding Ave., Alameda. Per Judy’s wishes, her ashes will be scattered at sea off the coast of San Francisco come Springtime!
Please share your memories with the family on the tribute wall.
You may watch the live stream be clicking on the link below:
https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/authorise.php?k=1643943275164503
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