Judy Garson, RSCJ
Religious of the Sacred Heart, Judith “Judy” Garson, passed away on November 3, 2025, in Albany, New York. She was 89 years old and a religious for 67 years. Judy was born on April 11, 1936, in New York, NY to William E. Garson and Eugenia Garson. When she was three years old, her parents divorced, and Judy was raised as an only child. Her father remarried two more times, providing Judy with two half-brothers who were ten years younger. Judy’s mother was a children’s librarian for the New York Public Schools, resulting in Judy learning to read at the early age of three.
Judy grew up in New York and attended Convent of the Sacred Heart at 91st Street and Manhattanville College, graduating in 1957 with a B.A. in Russian. After working for one year, she entered the Society in 1958 at Kenwood. This was very difficult for her mother, as the Society was cloistered at that time. Judy made her first vows in 1961 and then went on to graduate studies at Manhattanville where she earned an M.A. in English in 1962. She then taught at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Albany for two years. From 1964 to 1966, she taught at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Noroton, Connecticut. In February of 1966, Sister Garson left for probation and made her final profession in Rome on July 20, 1966. Upon returning to the US, she began studies at Columbia University, earning an M.A. in Slavic Languages and Literature in 1968. While at Columbia she was a teaching assistant at Manhattanville College in the Russian Department. From 1970-1972, Sister Garson returned to the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Noroton, Connecticut where she taught and served as Headmistress.
In 1972, Sister Garson was sent to Stuart Country Day School in Princeton, New Jersey, where she served as Curriculum Director (1972-1973), and became Headmistress a year later (1973-1977). In 1976, she was a delegate to the General Chapter in Rome and was asked by Sister Concepción Camacho, who was Superior General at that time, to join her General Council. Having the experience of working and traveling with Sister Camacho opened her eyes to the tremendous needs of the poor and suffering in the world. She served on the General Council until 1982. When she returned to the U.S., she no longer wanted to teach or work in a school but felt a strong call to work with the poor. It was by accident that she met the Little Sisters of the Assumption (LSA), while she was actively looking for a new ministry with the poor. This order of nuns worked exclusively with the poor and lived in the neighborhoods where they worked in East Harlem. Sister Garson began working there in 1984. She served as Co-Director for Education and Social Service until 1996, and then became the Executive Director, retiring in 2008. She was responsible for the management of a multi-service organization working with disadvantaged and marginalized people, many of whom were new immigrants. Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Services in East Harlem served over 4000 people at the time of Sister Garson’s retirement. That number has increased significantly over the years. Sister Garson was a tireless fund raiser, inspiring generous donors who trusted the organization, its work, and her leadership.
In 2003, the Alumnae Association at 91st Street and her colleagues awarded Sister Garson with the Distinguished Alumnae award. In a tribute the following was shared.
“For depth of understanding, breadth of compassion, truth of wisdom, Judy Garson is remembered wherever she has served. This award is given to one who is committed to be with people who are poor, to know well those who are forgotten by society, people whose voices are not heard when decisions are made about war, about health care and about education, those who are already in pain when pain is added to pain.”
In the years following her retirement from LSA, Sister Garson served two days a week with the Westchester Hispanic Coalition (2011). She also worked full time on several projects and part time with the UN-NGO (2009-2017).
In 2017, Sister Garson moved to the Abba House Community, where she was a supportive presence to her sisters. In 2022, as her health declined, Sister Garson moved to the Teresian House Community, where she could receive the care she needed. On the afternoon of November 3, 2025, Sister Garson went peacefully to God.
The Mass of the Resurrection for Sister Judy Garson will be held on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 11:00 am (EST) at St. Madeleine Sophie Catholic Church, 3500 Carman Rd., Schenectady, NY 12303. Burial at the Kenwood Cemetery of the Religious of the Sacred will follow the service. The Mass will be livestreamed.
You can access the livestream by clicking on this link. https://smssgabparish.org Scroll down on the homepage of the Church’s website, https://smssgabparish.org and click the play button when it’s time for the livestream to start.
Or, view on YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/@churchofsmsandsga788/streams This will not be activated until they go live, around 11 am EST.
Memorial contributions in memory of Sister Judy Garson, RSCJ, may be made to the Society of the Sacred Heart, P.O. Box 958047, St. Louis, MO 63195-8047, or online at https://rscj.org/donate.