Judith Weinstock

It’s no surprise that Judith Lee Weinstock spent almost the entirety of her 84 years living in Philadelphia, because Judie was never happier than when she was at home. Luckily she decided to go to Paris one summer while studying at Penn, because it was somewhere along the Seine where Judie first met her future husband (and fellow Philadelphian) Bennett Weinstock. Judie and Bennett spent the following 60+ years filling their lives (and the lives of all their friends and family) with colors and patterns and curious collections beyond most people’s wildest imaginings, through the highly successful interior design business they created and ran together for decades.

Judie’s favorite movie was What’s Up, Doc?. It sent her into giggling rollercoasters of tears no matter how many times she watched it. Which in turn sent everyone watching her watch What’s Up, Doc? into giggling rollercoasters of tears, too. Judie’s favorite breakfast was Frosted Flakes. A favorite lunch used to be the Texas Tommies at Dewey’s. But she was always happy with bologna and mayonnaise. And potato chips! She truly loved potato chips. And chewing ice. And Diet Coke with lemon. But never alcohol. Other than Bellinis. Only with fresh peach juice. Especially the Bellinis at Harry’s Bar, in Venice.

There was no child or grandchild in Judie’s life who was too young to learn that Monopoly is all about buying houses, building hotels, and winning. Her winning. The same was true for cards. Scrabble. Mah Jongg. And tennis. You win when you deserve to win. You lose when you don’t…even if you are only five. Which might seem mean coming from someone so petite and perfectly put together, but it was all part of Judie’s unwavering commitment to being honest. If she loved you, she loved you enough to tell you the truth. And she never pretended to know more than she actually knew. Which was a lot. From football to French cooking, and from politics to petit point, Judie could talk about pretty much anything…but she preferred to listen.

Born in West Philadelphia, to Joe and Roye Weintraub, in 1940, Judie is survived by her forever handsome husband Bennett, their two adoring children, Robert and Nancy, their children’s spouses Dana Stevens and Michael Yecies, three luminous grandchildren, Noah, Avery, and Pearl, and by Judie’s sister, Alene Alper. As was always the case, Judie never liked lingering at any gathering or function longer than she had to, though she often did have to…because her husband loves to talk and linger. But at some point, early in the morning of Saturday, July 5, Judie finally had enough of dawdling at life’s endless party…so she decided to go home. Which was always her favorite place to be.

Contributions in Judie's memory may be made to a Parkinson’s research organization of the donor’s choosing