Judith Lynne Reiss, 79, passed away in the comfort of her home surrounded by her family on Thursday, August 2, 2018. Born in Plainfield, NJ, on July 24, 1939, she was the daughter of the late William and Lorraine (Ayers) Bragdon. On November 27, 1965, she married Malcolm A. Reiss at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Waitsfield.
Judy was a 1957 graduate of Scotch Plains Fanwood High School and continued her education at Montclair State College, graduating with her bachelor of arts degree in Spanish. In the early 1960s, Judy moved to Vermont and was employed as an educator, first at Waterbury High School where she also coached the women’s basketball team to a state championship and then following, taught at St. Michael’s in Montpelier.
An entrepreneur and go-getter, Judy founded the Valley Day School (a day care preschool) at Sugarbush which she owned and operated for over 25 years, was executive director of the Valley Area Association, was employed in the development office at Norwich University, and worked for the Vermont Children’s Aid Society in Winooski as development director along with many other endeavors. She was well known throughout central Vermont for her weekly column, published for over 30 years, in The World titled “Reiss’s Pieces.”
Judy was a longtime parishioner at Our Lady of the Snow’s Catholic Church in Waitsfield. In her leisure time she enjoyed a good book, having tea with “The Grandma Mafia" at Three Mountain Cafe and spending time with her grandchildren and family.
Judy is survived by her husband, Malcolm A. Reiss of Waitsfield; their children, Tobias Reiss and his wife Heidi of Hanover, NH, Patricia Reiss of Waterbury Center, VT, Sarah Lessard-Reiss and her wife Rene of Sandwich, MA, Adrienne Gibbs and her husband Michael of Avon, CO; five grandchildren, McKinley Halpern-Reiss, Sebastian Halpern-Reiss, Katie Gibbs, Camden Reiss and Nicholas Reiss; as well as extended family. Judy was predeceased by a brother.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated from Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Waitsfield on a date and time to be announced. Assisting the family is Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com.
