Judith Ellen (Bailey) Keneman, 69, passed away at the University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro with family by her side, Sunday, May 22, 2016. Born in Framingham, Massachusetts, she grew up in the nearby town of Southborough. Judith attended Algonquin Regional High School graduating with honors in 1965. She was a member of the National Honors Society and held the position of Worthy Advisor of the Marlboro Chapter of Rainbow Girls. She was elected from the state of Massachusetts to function as the Grand Drill Leader for a statewide assembly, as well as being selected to be a foreign exchange student.
Judith began her college studies in September of 1965 at Simmons College in Boston studying Nursing. She met her true love, Scott Allen Keneman, during her freshman year and married him in June 1967. After working various jobs to help support them while Scott acquired his PhD degree, she became a homemaker, raising a son Brian Scott and a daughter Amy Lynn. Judith returned to her college studies at Trenton State College, (now known as “The College of New Jersey”) many years later, receiving her BA in History, with Honors, in May 1993. She returned to the working world as Office Manager of Imani Presbyterian Church in Trenton where she worked for several years. Then she was hired as the Executive Assistant to the Gallup Poll Editor in Chief at the Gallup Poll in Princeton, where she worked for 12 years. During this time Judith helped to select and manage the Gallup Blue Books, a collection of the most important and newsworthy articles each year, in addition to managing the Gallup Brain subscription, before retiring in 2011.
During her retirement Judith spent countless hours enjoying her many hobbies including birdwatching, gardening, family genealogy, photography, and spending lots of time with her two beloved grandsons. In 2012, Judith won her first photo award from Cape Cod Life Magazine, which led to 4 years of award-winning photos being featured in Cape Cod Life Magazine, as well as the cover of their 2013 Annual Calendar. Judith won several more awards in the coming years for her photos of birds, landscapes, sunsets, and other nature shots from NJ Audubon exhibits and at various galleries in Mercer County, NJ and Bucks County, PA. She was an active member of the Princeton Photography Club, Yardley Photography Club, and the New Hope Art League.
Her most recent accomplishments include: having one of her Bucks County Covered Bridge photos chosen for a billboard by a local bank and featured in Bucks County Magazine; having several of her nature and animal photos displayed on the walls of a newly opened upscale farm-to-table restaurant in Hopewell NJ; and having a 7-photo/ 6-page portfolio with Biography published in the May Issue of Cape Cod Life Magazine. Judith won 3 separate “Best of 2016 Readers Choice Awards” in Cape Cod Life Magazine’s June issue, with one photograph featured in the May 23rd local Boston ABC Television Show Chronicle.
Judith was a member of NJ Audubon, Mass Audubon, and Friends of Patterson Farm Preservation. Her love of history and over 40 years of research in genealogy were supported by her active role and memberships to the Society of Mayflower Descendants, Daughters of the American Revolution, New England Historic Genealogical Society, John Alden Society, Duxbury Historical Society, Framingham Historical Society, and Southborough Historical Society. Judith was also a longstanding member of Pennington Presbyterian Church and served as Deacon for many years, in addition to volunteering in the office. During her adult life, she also lived in Carmel, IN; Lancaster, PA; and Barrington, Il. She and Scott moved back to Princeton with their children in 1989, where they have resided since.
Judith is survived by her husband, Scott Allen Keneman of Princeton, NJ; daughter Amy Lynn Keneman Djerbal and husband Merouane of Newtown, PA; two grandsons, Rafi Keneman Djerbal and Malek Alden Djerbal; her sister, Susan Elizabeth Bailey of Richmond, VA; two uncles, Frederick Zartarian of Boston, Mass and Jack Kocyk of San Marcos, CA; and aunt JoAnn Kocyk; as well as sister in law Sharon Dolan and husband Stan of Frisco, TX; sister in law Barrie Kimball and husband Steven of Towson, MD; and by nieces and nephews who knew her as “Aunt Judy”: Brad and Katie Kimball, Gavin and Ashley Kimball, and Beth Kimball of Towson, MD; Jaime and Trey Worley, Lori and Eric Haas, and Bryce and Meredith Dolan of Dallas, TX. She leaves behind many beloved cousins including her goddaughter and cousin, Glynis “Gigi” Zywicki and husband Ron of Lombard, IL; Scott Garland and wife Jane of Warrenton, VA; Greg Garland of Bloomfield Hills, MI; Tanya Kocyk Gabriella of San Marcos, CA; Sasha Kocyk Andrews and husband Rob of Carlsbad, CA; Kim Kocyk Landry and husband James of Lexington, Mass; Edgar Bailey and wife Priscilla of Providence, RI; James Bailey and wife Betsy; and Meg Bailey and husband Rob. Judith’s son, Brian Scott Keneman, preceded her in death.
Though gone too soon, Judith had a life well-lived, was well-loved and will be very missed by those who knew and loved her. Memorials Donations to honor Judith may be made to NJ Audubon or Mass Audubon. A Memorial Service [was] held on Sunday, June 26th, 5pm, at Apple-Wilson Funeral Home in Pennington, NJ.
(Obituary contributed by her family)
What an accomplished woman of many talents!!
And, though living away, still interested in Southborough when we talked while I was interviewing people for “Southborough Memories.”
My mom’s heart never left Southborough 😊
I have so many wonderful memories of growing up in Southborough and especially of times spent with the Bailey girls Judy and Susan.
She was always a leader, even as a child, so her numerous accomplishments come as no surprise to me. And she was so smart.
I remember being out on Fay field with her and Susan and my sisters, sledding and playing amazing make believe games. I especially remember the night her father took us all out to see the “sputnik” through his telescope. I guess you are up there now Judy. God speed.