Our loving and so beloved, Judith Ann Esparza (nee Potter), passed away at 1:30 PM, October 22, 2014, at a nursing home in Burien, after a brave ten-year health battle. She died peacefully in bed holding hands with her beloved husband of 58 years, Gilbert L. Esparza, a retired Boeing Engineer and Fed. MGR. Meeting when they both attended college at the University of California, Berkeley, and married on Aug. 31, 1956.

Soon after her passing at 1:30p.m., her daughter and son arrived, along with her son-in-law and grand daughters. All were able to join Gilbert and partake at bedside prayers for Judith's ministration service, led by the Reverend Esther Poirier, who had responded upon being notified of her passing

Being loved and admired by all who knew her. Family members in expressing how much our beloved Judy will be missed, said: "I know many different circles of friends and family that have come into contact with Grandma, and how she always sang praise and appreciation of how much and how GOOD of a listener she was, with advice worlds beyond the wise. Always humble, always caring."

Judith (Judy), was born May 13, 1932, to Howard and Ruth Geisler in Yonkers, N. Y. She was raised and educated In New York and the Washington, DC -Virginia area. Graduating from Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, VA. She attended various colleges including: A women's college in Westhampton, at Richmond VA. And onto the Univ. of Calif., Berkeley, where she obtained her 'A.B.' Degree, International Relations, in 1956; Then continued on with her studies and 'Master Degree in Political Science,' Berkeley,1961, including her 'Thesis' on: The Administration of the Washington State Department of Commerce and Economic Development.

And also while being an activist in many fronts (including secretarial work for 'The Congress of Racial Equality, CORE), she continued her studies to obtain her 'Ph.D. Degree in Political Science,' University of Washington, Seattle, WA, Aug., 1974, including her required 'Dissertation' titled, The Campesino in Latin America - A Pessimistic View. To write about the "campesinos" She had to master the Spanish Language sufficiently enough to live in Mexico's agricultural areas, and converse with agricultural owners and workers; to arrive at her stated view where, "An assessment is made of the power of the peasants to change their status under the prevailing administrations of Latin American governments and that of the United States."

During her Doctoral studies at University of Washington (1967-1968), Judith worked as a Teaching Assistant with the Dept. of Political Science: Conducted 4 one-hour teaching sessions a week in "An Introduction to American Government", for 50 university under-graduate students. Spring quarter, carried out the same responsibilities for an upper division course for political science majors in non-governmental organizations and "pressure group studies".

Summer of 1951: Clerk-typist with the U.S. Dept. of Defense at the Pentagon. Washington, D.C. Summer of 1952: Clerk-typist in a credit office for a furniture store.

1953-1954 Judith was the office secretary in the National Education Association's, International Relations Division. In addition to secretarial duties and handling of majority of correspondence was also responsible for the division's clearing-house of all inquiries regarding international opportunities in teaching, fellowships, exchanges, and the educational services of international organizations.
1954-1956 Judith was a Research Analyst at the University of California, Berkeley. Gathering relevant material for an anthology of literature, for use in secondary schools. The summer of 1955, she worked as a research assistant for the Director of International Relations Division at the headquarters of the NEA in D.C. Assisted in the Director's research project involving an analysis of administrative difficulties in carrying out desegregation of Washington D.C. Schools.

Associations include: The American Political Science Association; Women's Caucus for Political Science; Seattle League of Women Voters; Citizens Advisory Council for the South East Branch of Seattle Model City Program,1973; The Congress of Racial Equality; and the League of United Latin American Citizens.

Judy truly enjoyed reading, from the classics, to modern well-written novels. She enjoyed attending concerts and finer plays, opera, "La Traviata" (one of her favorites), and ballet performances.

Judith may have left this world, but will never be forgotten---She will be in the hearts of her husband and her children: Daughter Kate Esparza-Guerrero, and husband, Tim Guerrero, of Kent, WA, as well as her Guerrero grandchildren, Timmy, Amanda and Alexandra (Allie), Seattle, WA; her son Matthew (Matt) Esparza and wife Petra, of Bainbridge, WA, and her Esparza grandchildren, Amber, Dylan and Justin; her sister Barbara Randell of Lancaster, WI, and her Randell niece, Laura of Charlotte NC and nephew Keith of Orting WA.; her older brother Peter Potter of Manchester, MI, as well as nephews, Allen Potter of Ypsilant, MI and Mark E Potter of Coral Gables, FL.