January 31, 2008

Judy Brewer rests in peace

By Shana McLean Moore
Staff Writer

Almaden Valley has had to mourn the loss of Judy Brewer twice—once in her 2006 move to Connecticut and now, again, as she moves to her final resting place.

Tom, Judy, Simon and Jeremy Brewer take a dream trip to Greece in 2006. Photo courtesy of the Brewer Family

While Brewer only lived in Almaden Valley for four years, she left a mark on the lives of the friends she made during that time and on the students she inspired to read, read and read some more through her involvement with the Los Alamitos Elementary School library.

Shari Kipp, a close friend of Brewer’s, met this extraordinary woman when coincidence placed both of her children in classes with both Brewer boys, Simon and Jeremy, now 13 and 10 years old, who live with their father in Connecticut.

“We realized we had an eerie amount of things in common, which obviously helped us become friends quickly,” said Kipp. “While we were volunteering during the lunchtime science program at Los Alamitos, I mentioned that I needed to go to the store to get the ingredients for our traditional Canadian Thanksgiving dinner. Judy instantly laughed and said ‘I’m from Canada, too.’ We decided to bring our families together and celebrated our first Canadian Thanksgiving together in 2002.”

“The coincidence became even greater when we realized we were from the same small town outside greater Montreal,” Kipp added. “In fact, when she came over and saw a violin hanging on my living room wall, we discovered we had studied with the same teacher, though some four years apart.”

Kipp spent plenty of time with Brewer during their five-year friendship. Brewer was “one of the most dedicated mothers I've known: committed first to her children's development and growth, to nurturing their environment, with a strong reach to friends and community. I learned so much from her in a short time, and miss her dearly."
Tracey Ananmalay, another friend who shared in Brewer’s and Kipp’s celebrations of Canadian culture, is grateful for Judy’s insights into the differences and commonalities of life on both sides of the border. Beyond their cultural ties, Ananmalay joins many Los Alamitos parents who are thankful for Judy’s passion for books and dedication to the Accelerated Reading Program at the school.

“Judy was always one to roll up her sleeves and pitch in wherever needed,” said Ananmalay. “Schools often find volunteers to help work at an event, but fewer parents are willing to step into more time-consuming leadership roles. Judy was a great leader for the AR program. She was incredibly bright and had a wealth of knowledge that she brought to bear in everything that she touched.”

Linda Sessions was thankful for both Brewer’s intelligence and can-do spirit when she stepped in as the substitute librarian when Sessions retired mid-school year in 2005. “Judy was especially interested in finding age-appropriate books for the school’s high-level readers,” said Sessions. “She was a wonderful person who was generous with her time and was capable and intelligent. She came to love her work in the library and it showed.”

The current Los Alamitos librarian, Diana Dahlin, knows firsthand about Judy’s love of the library. Just after receiving her cancer diagnosis in late 2006, Judy sent Dahlin an e-mail saying, “I often think of you and the library with great nostalgia. I truly loved working there. I hope to volunteer in our new community’s library once I finish with chemo,” Brewer added.

Dahlin shared that hope with Judy, and the children of Wilton, Conn. “Judy had a great knack for managing the library, and it was amazing how many students she knew by name.”

The greatest loss of Brewer’s untimely passing at the age of 48 is, of course, the loss felt by her family. “Judy's sons were her pride and joy for good reason,” added Ananmalay. “She gave to the community in a manner that enriched many children's lives, but her boys are imbued with her incredible curiosity and intelligence. She nurtured their innate abilities and they shine with so many of the qualities that made their mother a wonderful person.”

In honor of Judy Brewer’s life and commitment to reading, Los Alamitos will dedicate a section of its library to her. “Judy’s Corner” will be a place where students can nestle in for a good read. To donate a book in Judy’s honor, please drop it off in the office at Los Alamitos Elementary School. Books for elementary school students of any genre would be appreciated in honoring the life of one of Almaden’s residents who made a difference in the lives of her family, friends and children.

Los Alamitos Elementary School is located at 6130 Silberman Drive. You can call the school at (408) 535-6297.