Obituary of Judith D. Konowitz

Judith D. Konowitz, 74, of AuSable Forks, NY passed away peacefully on April 7th, 2022 after living with Alzheimer's disease since 2006. She was born Judith D. Walbourn in Sodus, NY in 1948, the daughter of James and Alma (Schuldt) Walbourn. In 1965 she went on to study Education at SUNY Plattsburgh, eventually earning Master’s Degrees from Plattsburgh State and Syracuse University. Judy began her career as an energetic and highly respected Kindergarten and Special Ed teacher in the AuSable Valley and Peru School districts. She was a fierce and tireless advocate for her students and was known to conduct parent-teacher conferences in living rooms and bars if that's what it took. She married her second husband John, a coach and PE teacher, in 1983. They taught together in the North Country for many years and spent summers working at Pok-O-MacCready camps. During basketball season, she could be found at John's games keeping the scorebook and making sure the referees knew how they were doing. As his college coaching career began, she followed him to teaching jobs in Saranac Lake, New Paltz, and Cortland. In the early 90s she sought a new challenge and began working in financial services on the weekends. She quickly realized she had an affinity for it and left teaching to work in Primerica full time. In less than 10 years she rose to Regional Vice President and was recognized as one of the top Women leaders in the business. By doing what she did best - teaching - she helped countless families plan for their financial future. In her downtime, which was scarce, she loved a cup of black coffee or three and the New York Times crossword puzzle. Her journey would take a turn when she began exhibiting cognitive decline in the early 2000s. By 2007 she could no longer work and was cared for by her husband John for the next several years. True to themselves, those years were not spent idly indoors. They socialized, played golf, and of course attended local basketball games. Judy is survived by her son, Keith (Rachel); niece, Luanne (Andy); stepsons, Chris (Rachel), Brian (Sharon), and Michael (Therese); her grandchildren, Claudia, Eliza, Nathan, and Jackson; her sister, Kathy; and friends who are family, Keith and Rachel Mason. She is predeceased by her sister, Nancy; and husband, John. Calling hours will be April 30, 2022 from 1 to 3 PM with a Memorial Service immediately following at Hamilton Funeral Home, 294 Mannix Road, Peru, NY. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association in Judy's name. Arrangements are in the care of the Hamilton Funeral Home, 294 Mannix Road, Peru, 643-9055.