Judith Lee (George) Imm

Mrs. Judith Lee (George) Imm, 82, of Waldoboro Maine and Ipswich, died on Saturday, January 1, 2022 in the Masconomet Health Facility in Topsfield. She was the wife of Martin H. Imm with whom she shared nearly 60 years of marriage.

Born in Springfield Massachusetts, daughter of the late Marion R. George and Francis E George, she graduated from Springfield Technical High School in 1957. She first worked in Florida painting flowers on pens, then as a supervisor in electronic manufacturing, then as a performer and waitress at the Crystal Palace, Mead Metcalf’s restaurant,  in Aspen, Colo. where she met her husband Martin. They married on April 16, 1962, and had two children, Christopher in 1963 and Elizabeth in 1964. 

Judith led a productive and happy life, and was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many. After her marriage, she moved from house to house more than 25 times in San Francisco, Corte Madera Cal, Saint Paul Minn, Ipswich Mass, Chicago Ill, LondonUK, cruising the coast of France, Portugal and Spain for a year in 1988/89, returning to Ipswich, then Salem Mass, Camden, Maine, Waldoboro, Maine and back to  Mass, where she lived in assisted care at Avita of Newburyport and at Sea View in Rowley since 2018.   

Judith referred to herself as a “corporate gypsy” because of all the family moves for Martin’s career, yet she always made their homes welcoming and beautifully decorated. She also found purpose within the community of each new location and dedicated her time to those in need in addition to ensuring her family was well taken care of and that the children had the best education available.  

Later in her life, she followed in her father’s footsteps and became an accomplished artist who was recognized with many awards, such “Copley Artist” in 1994 by the Copley Society of Boston, the oldest art organization in the United States, had a solo exhibit  at the Salem Atheneum, the first art exhibit in its 100+ year history, group shows with the North Shore Artists Society and the Rockport Artist’s Association. She often had exhibitions and solo shows in locations throughout the North Shore and Maine. Her art evolved from landscapes to dreamscapes, and she experimented with many techniques and media that provided personal growth and connections that enriched her life. She was an avid reader and devoured novels and art history. She also loved to travel to visit her family in Europe and the US.

Judith is best remembered for her creativity, sharp wit, and ability to empathize with and appreciate people. She maintained many friendships over the years and kept in touch with cards or emails if in-person visits were not possible. She would usually say yes to any request for help and always went beyond expectations to add creative touches to every project. She saw problems close to home and in the larger community and always found ways to improve them, thanks to her energy and passion to do what was right. Some examples were as a young mother in Minnesota, she promoted creativity in schools with the Paper Bag Players, she helped Native Americans get assistance to provide more opportunities for their families, she founded a non-profit with her husband and Unitarian Universalist church that helped over one hundred lower income families meet HUD requirements to be approved for home ownership. She was a strong believer in diversity and moved the family a few blocks away from their home on Crocus Hill in St. Paul, to participate in a new integrated program at the Webster Magnet Elementary School. While in Ipswich, she learned about Hospice care when it was just being introduced from the UK and began speaking about it to PTA’s & health care providers. In Chicago, she also volunteered as a Hospice family caseworker. Judith, it seems, was always engaged in care giving. In the final years of her life, when the tables were turned, she met her own caregivers with appreciation and gratitude.  

She is survived by her husband Martin, her daughter Elizabeth Alma of France, grandchildren, Francesca Louise of Malta, Nicolas Martin of UK, Clement Gabriel of France, Harrison Charles of VT, and step-daughter May Moran and her four children who she welcomed as her grandchildren, Jesper, Simon, Bernhard and Merrit of Sweden. She is predeceased by her son, Christopher Martin Imm (November 27, 1963-June 11, 2019)  

A memorial service will be held for Judith in the Ipswich area in early summer – please contact the family if you would like to attend or send any of your thoughts to  judithimmfamily@gmail.com. Arrangements will be assisted by the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich. 

Judith donated generously to charities dedicated to solving injustices, protecting children in impoverished areas of the world, the animals and wildlife. If you’d like to make a tribute Gift in Memory of Judith George Imm, we have selected two charities that she liked, Oxfam America at https://www.oxfamamerica.org/donate/  or the American Indian College Fund at  https://engage.collegefund.org/page/22097/donate/.

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