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Frances Montell
Judith Montell
December 4th, 1930 - May 23rd, 2020
December 4th, 1930 - May 23rd, 2020
Judy left a great legacy of social activism and documentary film-making. She began her film-making career in her 50’s with “Forever Activists: Stories of the Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade,” which was nominated for an Academy Award in 1991. “A Home on the Range,” a film about the Jewish Petaluma chicken farmers and a favorite at the SF Jewish Film Festival, was one of almost a dozen of her films. “In the Image: Palestinian Women Capture the Occupation” (2014) was her last film when Judy was 83. It was inspired by the work of B’Tselem, the human rights organization in Israel/Palestine, of which her daughter Jessica was the director at the time.
Judy had been assiduous in her participation in Kehilla Synagogue’s Middle East Peace Committee where, even though quite disabled, she managed to get to almost every meeting, contributing her ideas and insight.
She will be sorely missed by many long-time friends, some going back to her days at Syracuse University, others from over 40 years ago in her Shabbat Group, and still others whom she met more recently at Piedmont Gardens. Most of all she will be missed by her daughters Frances and Jessica Montell and their respective husbands Charley Weiland and Avi Ben-Tzur, and her grandchildren Helen and Ezra, Tal, Nadav and Asaf, as well as Judy's step-children Bernarda Septier and her husband Marin, and Craig Montell and his wife Denise, and their children Rachel, Amanda and Brandon.
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Tributes
Share a favorite memory, send condolences, and honor Judith’s life with a heartfelt message.
Char Prieto
Hasta la victoria siempre dear Judy Thank you very much for your social activism and for continuing the fight against totalitarianism and fascism No pasaran!
Bonnie Burt
Judy and I first met in Spain in 1992 when we each went with the SF Jewish Film Festival to show films. It turned out that we had a lot in common. Judy had made and was in Spain to show Forever Activists and my uncle was a vet in the Lincoln Brigade. In addition we had offices in the Fantasy Building and we were both from the same town in NJ. At the time I had been interviewing chicken ranchers in Petaluma for a film I wanted to make and asked Judy if she'd be interested in working with me. Many trips to Petaluma and many years later we completed A Home on the Range: The Jewish Chicken Ranchers of Petaluma. During that long process we became friends. Judy was the consummate party girl. She never met a party she didn't like. Judy also loved the SFJFF. Last year when it was hard for Judy to get to SF my husband Mark Liss and I asked if Judy wanted to go to the festival. Not only did she was to go but she also wanted to attend the late night post screening party! I'm not such a party goer but thought for Judy that we'd go. It wasn't until we ran into Dan Wolfheiler that night at the festival that we found out the party had been the night before. Judy was very disappointed as she hated to miss a good party. Judy will be greatly missed. For me the film festival will never be the same without her. I cherish the years we spent together working on the Petaluma film. Her memory is a blessing.
Patricia Bulitt
Judy invited me to be part of her video work in 1979! She wanted to have me into the studio at Laney College where I gave my dance work informed by my work with the Alaskan Eskimo people. As the first non native dancer, I was honored and touched by Judy's enthusiasm and skill. IN addition, we worked on additional footage because my brother's wedding was upcoming and i was giving he and he wife to be a dance--That DANCE was a videotape that JUDY made with me in Berkeley's Walden School where I was a teacher. Remembering Judy's warmth and enthusiasm for community, I send warmest regrets at her passing, along with a celebration for our spirits having been touched. Love to her family and community. My best~ -Patricia Bulitt
Jeni Wendel (Sternberg)
I first met Judy in 1976 when Jessie and I were in fourth grade together. I invited the Montell family to come to the shabbat group we had been going to. They were excited and joined. Judy was an intricate part of my experience in elementary school as my own mother was busy with her graduate program and coming out. Judy was at all of our performances for the Gilbert and Sullivan group and with her theater background helped in many ways. She and that experience helped form my love for theater and education. Now, each year I have created and directed my fifth graders in inspired plays about activist themes, such as Shero's and Immigration, climate change etc... Judy also supported my learning of editing as I was the computer/movie teacher at our school for a few years as well. I always knew if I needed anything she would welcome my questions with open arms.
Kathy Moss
Thank you for the beautiful memorial service. I loved seeing Judy's face and spirit in her wonderful daughters and grandchildren. She is still with us in so many ways!
Marcia Brooks
My condolences to your loss of this wonderful soul. I had the honor of helping Judy when she came back from France quite injured and unable to stay alone all the time. In just a few short visits we started going through her lifetime of documents and records for the plans she had for future movies but even then she admitted they might not get made but couldn't quite let go of it all. It was such a pleasure to spend time with her and help her put her life in order (such as it was). Many blessings Marcia Brooks .
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