Julia Margaret Tereshchuk

July 24, 1956 to May 22, 2022

Julia Margaret Tereshchuk was born on July 24th, 1956, in Carlisle, England. Known as Julie to family, friends and anyone who met her, she lit up the world with her wonderful smile and joy for life.

The daughter of Michael Tereshchuk, a Ukrainian-born former prisoner of war and Scottish born, Hilda Brown, she spent her first months in the farming community of Longtown. Following a move to industrial Manchester, throughout her childhood, Tereshchuk spent summers visiting family in rural Longtown and small fishing communities across the Scottish border.

Despite summers spent in the country, Tereshchuk, “always a city kid”, preferred the industrial side of Manchester although the family later settled in the genteel south Manchester suburb of Cheadle Hulme. With its neatly tended gardens and quiet cul-de-sacs, Cheadle Hulme never felt like home, and after graduating from Cheadle Country Grammar School for Girls, Tereshchuk returned to an industrial town in 1974, attending the University of Bradford. Tereshchuk’s major in European Studies took her to Hamburg, where she enrolled at the University for two semesters and returned to live after graduation.

In 1981, Tereshchuk returned to England where she met her future husband and life-long companion, Trevor Richards. The couple settled in the Derbyshire Peak District, close to the Lacrosse club where Richards played. Tereshchuk became an ardent fan and the couple traveled to the Lacrosse World Championships in Toronto in 1986.

In 1990, Tereshchuk and Richards moved to the United States. The couple never again lived in Britain, becoming U.S. citizens in 1999 and dividing their time between Austin, and New York City – home of her dearly beloved brother David, who, along with Richards, survives his younger sister.

On November 2, 1990, the day Tereshchuk and Richards arrived in Austin, the Dallas Morning News headline announced “Richards Takes Texas”. The synchronicity was perfect since Tereshchuk was a supporter of Governor Richards and the advancement of women leaders and voted that position faithfully.

Living in Austin, Tereshchuk blossomed professionally becoming an award winning editor and writer. She edited publications for the statewide historic preservation organization, Preservation Texas and wrote for Austin Woman Magazine becoming Associate Editor. Her last professional post was serving for eight years as Editor-in-Chief of Texas Lifestyle Magazine. While writing for Austin Woman Magazine, Tereshchuk interviewed many of Austin’s most accomplished women. Her genuine interest and her ability to listen led people to trust her, and they often became close friends.

In 2014, the couple moved to downtown Austin where Tereshchuk enjoyed spending time on the Capitol grounds walking with friends. She also supported the Paramount Theatre as a member of the Century Club for 10 years and hosting summer movie parties for friends each year.

Always supporting other women, and especially women communicators, Tereshchuk was a leader in Women Communicators of Austin, joining in 2003, serving on the Board of Directors in 2009 and then as President 2011-2012. Through WCA, Tereshchuk served as a mentor to many young women. WCA honored Tereshchuk by awarding her the President’s Award, 2004, the Gladys Whitney Hearst Outstanding Member Award, 2007, and the Leadership Award, 2015.

Tereshchuk joined Metropolitan Breakfast Club serving as president and helping to steer the organization through challenges to reach a renewal and new vitality today.

Coming to the United States did not separate Tereshchuk from friends and family. Her brother, David described Tereshchuk as “the great connector in our family, ensuring that although we all are spread across the globe, we kept in touch.” Embracing her roots, Tereshchuk traveled to Ukraine to see relatives and learn the culture, becoming fluent in Ukrainian as well as German. During the pandemic, Tereshchuk hosted weekly Zoom calls with friends and family.

Summer of 2021 marked Tereshchuk’s last trip to England. Accompanied by their husbands, she and her lifelong friend, Alison Woodhams, celebrated their 65th birthdays with a trip on the Thames and Oxford Canal. Enjoying good weather and the idyllic countryside, the days spent together were filled with love and laughter.

In spring 2022, Tereshchuk’s cancer advanced and she returned to hospital where she died peacefully on May 22nd, in the loving care of Richards, her devoted husband of 35 years.

While many hearts today feel a gaping hole from her absence, they also are brightened with memories of happy times. They remember Julie for her kindness and grace, her genuine interest in people, her strength in adversity, her laughter and spirit, her love of life. She believed the best about people and with that inspired them to be their very best selves.

A celebration of her life is planned at the Paramount Theatre on Thursday, June 16th at 2 PM.

To join the service via web, please click on the zoom link below & type in the meeting ID & passcode.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/4427178759?pwd=K25HWkFtaTBESC9PeTVvdGoySitpQT09

Meeting ID: 442 717 8759

Passcode: 670515

Streaming link below:

https://vimeo.com/721421850/249c8d14f3

A recording of the service can be downloaded at the link below:

Downloadable link here - https://vimeo.com/voltaicvideo/download/721421850/70d47db70c

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Paramount Theatre in Julie’s honor. https://tickets.austintheatre.org/donate/i/8