Obituary of Judith Rodriguez

Judith Davidson Rodriguez, 90, of Darien, CT, died peacefully on January 1, 2025. Born in New York City on August 27, 1934, Judy was the daughter of the late William Francis Davidson and Edna Feehan Davidson.

She grew up in New York City and attended the Brearley School, and graduated from Manhattanville College with a B.A. in history. After graduation, Judy began working at Vogue Magazine in the editorial department and soon after met her future husband, Joaquin Paul Rodriguez. Judy and Paul married in 1958 and moved to Darien, Connecticut a few years later, where they raised their four daughters and developed life-long friendships. Judy was an active member of The Garden Club of Darien for more than forty years, including serving as its President, a dedicated volunteer for the Darien Public Schools, which all her girls attended, and member of the Junior League during the early phases of renovation of the Lockwood Matthews Mansion. She was an active alumna with both her alma maters, passionate about watching and playing tennis and a devotee of the New York Philharmonic. With Paul, she traveled the world sharing their love of history and culture, but her favorite escape was to a small, off-the-grid island in Maine's Penobscot Bay where she enjoyed the simplicity and beauty of island life and gathered inspiration for her artwork. Judy's greatest passion was drawing, creating children's books and botanical illustrations. Over the years she wrote and illustrated a wonderful series of books that captured the imagination of all who had the pleasure of reading them. She will be remembered by her family and friends as an insightful, creative, curious and a loving individual. Judy and Paul were married for 55 years until he passed away in 2013.

She is survived by her four daughters and sons-in-law: Susan Rodriguez and Charles Lowrey of New York City; Elizabeth and Jay Chandler of New York City; Carol and Stephen Geremia of Sherborn, MA; and Anne and Bruce McGuire of Darien, CT; and seven grandchildren and their spouses: Matthew (Julianne), Alex, Nate, Jamie (Lucy), Caroline, Isabelle and Grace; and her great granddaughter Lyla. A celebration of her life will be held at the United Church of Rowayton, 210 Rowayton Avenue, Rowayton, CT on Saturday, May 10th, 2025 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Judy can be made to Americares.