William H. Judd, Jr., 96, a 50 year summer resident of Hemlock Park in Jefferson, died at his home in New Britain, Conn. on May 29. Bill was born on July 15, 1912, the son of banker William H. Judd and Florine Allderige Judd. After graduating from New Britain High School, he attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., graduating in 1934. Bill furthered his education at Harvard Law School and then returned to New Britain where he worked first as a lawyer in private practice and then at North and Judd Mfg. Co. as Corporate Secretary and Vice President until his retirement in 1973. He was an active community volunteer with the Rotary, New Britain Family Service, the New Britain Nursery School Board, Community Chest, and the Middletown Chamber of Commerce.
Following her graduation from Swarthmore College in 1939, Bill married Margaret Chase in the back yard of her home in New Britain, Conn. Eight years later, Bill, Margaret and four children moved to the Chase house. It was to be his home for the next 62 years; the last 19 as a widower.
In addition to raising a family of five children, Bill had many hobbies. He built boats, sailed boats, and built boat models. He loved tending plants, a trait inherited from his mother, and had a greenhouse for many years in which he raised orchids, a passion which continued throughout his life. He also hooked rugs, raised tropical fish, assembled children’s chairs, and made jigsaw puzzles.
Bill was an ardent birder and traveler. Late each winter he and Maggie would depart New Britain in their travel trailer headed for points South and West. They enjoyed the birding in Arizona and visiting their children in Texas and California. Overseas travels included trips to India, Indonesia and Europe.
An enthusiastic alumnus of Dartmouth College, Bill received a citation from the College in 2006 recognizing him as the Gift Chair of the Year. He was able to join his classmates for their final reunion, the 70th in October 2004.
Sharing his father’s interest in Colonial America, Bill was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Connecticut. He served the Society as President from 1975 to 1977. As President, he presided over the Connecticut Society’s hosting of the 1977 Triennial Meeting.
The Judds were a camping family starting in Bill’s childhood with trips to the banks of the Farmington River. This tradition continued as Bill and Maggie raised their family with trips to New Hampshire, Maine, and Colorado. Fifty years ago, they purchased land in Hemlock Park on Damariscotta Lake in Jefferson, tent camping for several years followed by construction of a cottage where they spent every summer, birding, swimming, and boating, enjoying life in Maine.
Bill is survived by his five children, Diana Judd Stevens of Wilmington, Del., Martha Judd Estroff of McLean, Va., William H. Judd III of Damariscotta, Margaret Ann Judd of Madison, Conn., and Rebecca Judd of South Portland; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren with one on the way.
Memorial service will be held this summer in Maine.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration, c/o Nobleboro Historical Society, P.O. Box 122, Nobleboro, ME 04555, http://www.damariscottamills.org.
