Judith Feinberg Whittaker
Jun 3, 1928 -
Apr 12, 2022
Judith Feinberg Whittaker died on April 12, 2022. Known as both "The Gravy Lady," acknowledging her place in the annual Thanksgiving dinner lineup served at Bean's Cafe, and "The Flamingo Lady," she fully embraced the symbolism of that kitschy tchotchke, Judy was born on June 3, 1928. She lived a long life that embodied her principled, liberal values, including braving the elements to wave signs for political candidates she believed in and volunteering for the Democratic Party at the Alaska State Fair until she couldn't walk to the booth anymore.
Judy served for two years as a codebreaker for the U.S. Navy. She then received a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and worked for several papers in Oregon while attending law school, but stopped that, in 1955, to drive the Alcan with her cat in her VW Bug to work for the Anchorage Times. Because women didn't cover the "real news" at that time, she sold and composed display ads for the Times. She was hoping for a promotion, but the job was offered to newcomer Dick Whittaker instead - her first words to him were, reportedly, "You son of a B#!@H!" They eventually married in Kodiak, Alaska, moved back to Oregon so he could attend law school while she started raising children, then relocated to Ketchikan, Alaska, where they completed their family. Known for her uncanny ability to stretch a dollar, she served as the "token mom" on the national Consumer Reports board of directors in the early 1980s. In between having babies, she spearheaded many additions to Ketchikan's arts and civic scene, most notably the Ketchikan Shoestring Symphony, the Blueberry Festival, the Ketchikan International Film Addicts and the local chapter of the League of Women Voters. Along the way she was a stringer for the AP, and she and Dick worked for many newspapers in Alaska, including filling in for Albro Gregory at the Nome Nugget. After she and Dick divorced, she moved to Anchorage in the early 1980s, and continued her volunteer efforts to make the world a better place, by working with English-language learners, distributing the Senior Voice and putting up posters for the Anchorage Civic Orchestra, the Sitka Music Festival and other local arts groups. She knew every bulletin board in town.
Judy was an avid, life-long learner, so when COVID-19 hit, she learned how to use an iPad at 92 in order to participate in Ole classes and the 9 a.m. Forum presentations of the Anchorage Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, where she was a longtime member. She is survived by her six children, Jedidiah, Jetta (spouse Rob and children Leo and Ruby Steedle), Joshua, Juno (daughter Jeorgia), Jakob and Jonah; sister, Jessica Sinha of Cary, N.C.; niece, Sonya Sinha of New York City; and many friends who brightened her days, including Bernice, Alis, Julie, Mollie and Sallie, Marie, Netta, Terry-Teresa, Marti, the members of the Senior Center Women's Chorus, the attendees of the YMCA morning swim-and-gossip sessions, and many more who have already passed. The family thanks the wonderful care team of Luda and Claudia of Compass Home Care, and Drs. Konkol, Mueller and Grant, and the social work team at the Veterans Administration, all of whom worked together to help Josh, her main caregiver, and allow her to remain in her home until the end.
At her request, no services will be held. To honor her, the family suggests contributions be made to any of her four favorite local charities: Bean's Cafe, Brother Francis Shelter, Union Gospel Mission and Salvation Army. And, as a lifelong Democrat, she reminds us "don't forget to vote!"
