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PUTMAN, JUDITH ANN April 15, 1944 - November 1, 2012 TO KNOW HER WAS TO LOVE HER Judy passed away peacefully at her home in Santa Fe on All Saints Day, Nov. l, 2012, after a courageous 3 1/2 year struggle with peritoneal cancer. Born in Chicago to Dorothy Lenora Durbin and William Hanlon Putman, Judy lived with her family in Chicago and Shreveport, LA, before they settled in Farmington, NM, when she was six. There she attended Catholic elementary school and Farmington High School, from which she graduated in 1962. She received a B.S. in education from the University of New Mexico in 1966, and she returned there at mid-career to obtain an M.A. in counseling. Judy was one of the first eight teachers hired by the Technical Vocational Institute (now Central New Mexico University) in Albuquerque, and she taught business skills there for 32 years. Upon her retirement from teaching, she became director of development of the Presbyterian Ear Institute in Albuquerque. She moved to Santa Fe after marrying Lee Dirks on December 28, 2001. While living in Albuquerque, Judy volunteered for many years at the Barrett House, a Catholic nonprofit that "provides housing and supportive services to women and children who are striving to break the cycle of homelessness." After moving to Santa Fe, she served for several years as a member of the board of directors of the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival. Her survivors include her husband, Lee Dirks, of Santa Fe; her son, Barry Epstein, his wife Cris, and their daughter Catie and son Charlie of Albuquerque; her daughter, Stacey Epstein, her husband Sol Henik, and their daughters Alexis and Aliyah of Lafayette, CA; her sister, Susan Putman, of Chandler, AZ, and her brother, William Putman, and his wife Kate of Phoenix, AZ; and many other loving relatives and legions of friends from the East Coast to Maui and many places in between. Judy's family expresses profound appreciation to Dr. Carolyn Muller and her colleagues at the University of New Mexico Cancer Center in Albuquerque for the superb care and caring that she received during her illness. We will be forever grateful. At Judy's request, a small private Roman Catholic service will be held for Judy, with only her immediate family present. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Barrett House Foundation, 10300 Constitution Ave., N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87112. Berardinelli Family Funeral Service 1399 Luisa Street Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 984-8600 Please sign our guestbook for the family at: www.berardinellifuneralhome.com
        Published on: Sat November 03, 2012