Obituary

John William Judy was born on July 8, 1938 in San Francisco to John William Judy and Sara Brown Judy. He died suddenly at home on May 16, 2020 in Portland, OR. He lived his first five years in California mercury mining communities near Paso Robles where his father was employed as mining engineer. The Judy family moved to Tacoma, WA where John Sr. took a job with Hooker Chemical Company. John attended Washington and Mt. Downing grade schools. In 1951, the family moved to a farm with three acres in Edgewood, WA near Lake Surprise. John attended Edgemont School for 7th and 8th grades. He was a Boy Scout and he raised animals for 4H. At Puyallup High School he played three sports—football, basketball, and baseball. He was high school Student Body President. He graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in Political Science. He worked in berry and bulb fields, a poultry farm, a produce packing facility, and in the construction industry during summers in college. He was proud that he earned 2/3 of his college tuition through those summer jobs and paid for room and board by working in the college dormitory freshman cafeteria. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.

After college, John worked in Tacoma as a management trainee for Bank of California. He joined the Air National Guard. He began working in the lumber industry, with jobs taking him to live with his family in Spokane, WA and Portland, OR. For 23 years, he served as President of American International Forest Products. In 2006, he concluded his career as President and CEO of Forest City Trading Group where he took the company to employee ownership.

He married Patricia Snead in Tacoma, WA in May, 1968. They had two children. He is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Patricia Judy of Portland, OR; son Christopher (Julie) of Lakewood, WA; daughter Jennifer Judy of Portland, OR and granddaughter Rylie Sanow of Portland, OR; sister Alice (Dave) Shorett of Bainbridge Island, WA; sister Katherine (Bill) of Corvallis, OR; and many nephews, nieces and cousins. He loved his family and lived life to the fullest every day.

John had many friends from schools, neighborhoods, country clubs, business, even the grocery store. He was an energetic, passionate, loving presence on this earth. He was fervid about generously giving of his time and resources, continued education, the financial markets and empowering people to be their best. He was energized by talking with people and saw potential in everyone. He was curious and encouraging to everyone around him, he made a difference in so many lives. He loved sports both playing them and watching on TV, he was physically active and encouraged others to do the same. He enjoyed his furry friends (Samoyed dogs and a cat named Tazzy).

The family wishes to thank the amazing caregivers and medical teams who have been with John over the past years, both in Portland and Tacoma. Due to current public gathering restrictions, the memorial celebration for John will be on the website; www.RememberingJohnJudy.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the FCTG Giving Foundation. Please indicate funds are FBO John Judy Scholarship Fund. Checks can be sent: C/O Forest City Trading Group, LLC (CFO), 10250 SW Greenburg Rd. Ste 300, Portland, Or 97223.