Judith Karo

Judith Francine Karo (née Wexler) passed peacefully in her sleep on March 11, 2025 from cardiopulmonary failure. She was 85. Judy was born June 24, 1939 in New York City, grew up in the Bronx, and lived there until her marriage in 1958 when she moved to Richmond. In 1961, the family moved to the Washington DC area, first in Alexandria, then from 1967 on in the Maryland suburbs, where she lived until her death.

Judy was a longtime fixture in the White Oak and Wheaton Public Libraries, usually manning the front desk and in the process meeting many people and making friends. She also worked in the Wheaton bookstore, post-retirement. An avid reader herself, Judy was a strong believer in reading both for entertainment and for education, and her influence on her children in that respect was lifelong. Her circle of friends was large and loyal; her AMC and “Red Hat Ladies” became a second family and a genuine support as Judy’s health declined.

Devoted to her extended family, Judy loved get-togethers for group vacations and reunions. An enthusiastic traveler, she visited dozens of countries on three continents, often on the spur of the moment, and often with her companion of 40 years, Melvyn. She loved attending local theater and was a frequent usher. She enjoyed collecting autographs, and meeting celebrities.

Judy’s real passion was combating cancer, which had taken her own mother when she was in her teens. She worked tirelessly through the former AMC Cancer Research in Denver to find a cure for cancer and enlisted all her children in the group’s efforts. Late in her life, Judy successfully fought her own struggle with cancer with the assistance of Dr. Burles “Rusty” Johnson, to whom the entire family is eternally grateful for his innovative, able and deft treatment and his superlative patient and family relations.

Judy is survived by her three children Deborah Langford (Kyle), Martin Karo (Fran), Janet Rohner (Stephen), her seven grandchildren and their partners: Brent Langford (Emily), Jason Rohner (Erin), Kelly Langford (Peter), Scott Karo (Jordan), Kevin Rohner (Heather), Janine Karo Sposeep (Drew), Brian Rohner (Sydney), a great-granddaughter from Jason and Erin named Olivia, her sister Susan Sparks, her companion Melvyn Newfield, and devoted friends too numerous to count. The family asks those who wish to make donations in her name do so to the Kimmel Cancer Center of Johns Hopkins University Hospital, online link secure.jhu.edu/form/Kimmel , designated to support of the research of Dr. Burles Johnson.