Obituary of Judith Wade Downer

Judith W. Downer 1939-2015 On February 25, 2015 in Reston, VA with her children at her side. Loving and devoted mother to Douglas (Annie) Downer, Debra (Tim) Vigotsky and Doreen (Jay) Meadows. Grandchildren Timothy Vigotsky, Kaitlyn Downer, Christopher Vigotsky, Julia Downer, Miranda Meadows and Monica Meadows and Step-Grandchildren, Zachary and Joshua (deceased) Hennessa. She also remained close with her ex-husband, Richard Downer and former daughter-in-law, Lynne Downer. Judy was born in Brooklyn, NY but moved to Herndon, VA in 1965 where she raised her family, made hundreds of friends and lived the rest of her life. She was a real estate broker and co-owned Hometown Properties with her close friend, Barbara Hoss (Godowsky), before selling to a national firm. She was an active member of the Herndon community as a member and past President of the Herndon Fortnightly Club; served as first vice president of the Greater Herndon Citizens Association; served as president of the Herndon Chamber of Commerce, a member of its Board of Directors and founded the Environmental (recycling) Committee and the McLean area Telecommunication Task Force; and served as co-chairman of the Herndon-Reston Recreational Task Force; assisted in starting the SAGA (Students Against Global Abuse) program at Herndon High School and the Herndon Ladies Brunch; and an active member of the Dranesville District Comprehensive Plan Review Task Force, Tree-Action, and Herndon Planning Commission. In December 1992, she was appointed as the Dranesville District Representative to the Fairfax County Planning Commission by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and served in that capacity until her retirement in December 2000. During her tenure, she was selected parliamentarian in 2000, and served as both vice chairman and chairman of the Redevelopment and Housing Committee, focusing much of her attention on affordable housing issues throughout Fairfax County; she was appointed to the Supervisors Task Force on Baseball Selection Site Selection, Task Force of Revitalization and was an ex-officio member of the Dulles Corridor Land Use Task Force. Because of her spirit of volunteerism and commitment to the community she was recognized and presented proclamations by both The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and The Herndon Town Council in 2001. In addition, she was named "Lady Fairfax" in 1991 to represent the Dranesville District. She received the Town of Herndon Distinguished Service Award at the Mayor's Volunteer Appreciation Night in 1990 and was named "Citizen of the Year" by the Herndon Rotary Club and Greater Herndon Jaycees in 1991. She received an Outstanding Service Award and Certificate of Appreciation from the Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce. She was an avid pet lover and raised many (mostly rescued) pets during her lifetime including horses, ponies, dogs, cats, a Parrott named Apollo and countless others. A celebration of life will be held on her 76th birthday, March 21st from 4-7PM at ArtSpace Herndon, www.artspaceherndon.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in her memory to a few of her favorite charities: The Fortnightly Club of Herndon scholarship program, the ASPCA or Habitat for Humanity.