OBITUARY: Judith A. Voll Died Peacefully in Her Sleep on January 12
By Space Coast Daily // January 15, 2023
She took great pride in what she did to help others who were in need
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA—Ms. Judith A. Voll died peacefully in her sleep on January 12, 2023.
She was a lifelong resident of Dalton, Massachusetts until recently when she resided in Melbourne, FL. She was the daughter of Daniel Fleming and Julia Peer Fleming Schlernitzauer. Judith was born in Pittsfield on November 14, 1929. She married Albert F. Voll, Jr., in 1954 at St. Mary’s Church in Pittsfield. Together they raised four daughters. He predeceased her.
Judith graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1946. She continued her education at Becker Junior College in Worcester graduating with a Medical Technologist degree.
She went to work for Dr. Frederick Carpenter, a pediatrician, on North St., in Pittsfield. She worked as a peds physician’s assistant for 10 years. When her pediatrician retired, Judith went to work at St. Luke’s Hospital and then Pittsfield General Hospital as a night medical records librarian until her retirement in 1995. Her education didn’t cease after she retired. She studied with much dedication and received her real estate and broker licensures. Judith was a million-dollar salesperson on numerous occasions while working for Century 21 Perras Realty.
As the housing market diminished, she moved with the times, again taking her education very seriously, devoting thousands of hours studying and taking classes to become an EMT, EMT I, and Instructor for the State of Massachusetts. Her goal was to see every one of her students pass their exams and nothing made her happier.
During this time of her life, she volunteered in her hometown of Dalton, Massachusetts with the Dalton Fire and Rescue team, logging in hundreds of hours on emergency calls, often being “the first on the scene”. She took great pride in what she did to help others who were in need, she was a great teacher and a good friend and confidante to her coworkers and peers. She loved wearing that Dalton Fire jacket too.
Judy still wasn’t “resting on her laurels”. She worked part-time for County Ambulance in Pittsfield and volunteered in Windsor with their Ambulance service. She treasured the camaraderie, friendships, and love that blossomed from these activities and interactions on how better to assist the community.
Even with all the normal activity going on in her life… kids, work, volunteering, self-education, she still had time for an even greater passion, if it’s even possible there is such a thing. Her passion was HORSES! ENDURANCE HORSES to be precise.
Judy loved training for and competing in 3-day 100-mile endurance trail rides with her horses. Residing in the Berkshire Hills she had the perfect places to ride. She rode on October Mountain, Pittsfield State Forest, Mt. Greylock Reservation, and Lenox Mountain. Up the mountains, over bridges and water, in the sun and rain, in the woods where the deer, moose, and bear would at times come to greet her.
She was not a happy camper when those times arose. For the winter months, she lived and trained in Windsor/Aiken, South Carolina where she had come to know the trails and become friends with many a horse person. Conditioning a horse is a four-season job. She would keep records of how many miles, and at what speed and make sure the horse’s respirations and muscles could take it.
She often used a heart monitor for the horse to keep her in a safe range. Judy would travel by herself, in her jeep, pulling her horse and trailer at night from Massachusetts to South Carolina, Vermont, Maine, New Jersey, Virginia, and Florida to compete throughout the year. She made these trips for 20 years. She’d say “I can drive it blindfolded”.
Judy has completed (100) 100-mile endurance rides plus numerous shorter rides of 25, 35, and 50 miles. She has received numerous awards, trophies, platters, cups, bowls, and ribbons for Horsemanship, Champion and Grand Champion, and first places. Judy has written articles on the subject of endurance horse riding and given lectures to many an eager newbie. She has made her mark in the horse world with the best of them and had fun doing it.
When Judy stopped competing in trail riding she judged them instead, getting the best of both worlds. She was a jump judge for the hunter jumpers at Jumping Branch Farm in Aiken, South Carolina. She very much enjoyed sitting in her chair watching like a hawk for any faults from the riders. She took this job very seriously but enjoyed it tremendously as well.
Judith Ann Voll lived her life on her terms without any regrets. She was 93 years old when she passed. For those of you who were wondering?
There will be no calling hours. She will be laid to rest at a later date in the Becket Cemetery. Judy had a passion for dogs and horses. Most of her dogs were rescue animals who she loved dearly. Should you wish to donate to a cause… the Sonsini Animal Shelter or any animal rescue program of your choice would be epic.
