Judith Ann Glies

Judith Ann Glies, cherished as Judy, Momma, and affectionately crowned "Gram Cracker" by her grandchildren, died peacefully on October 13, 2026, at UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, at the age of 85.

Born on July 31, 1941, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Judy was the daughter of the late Henry and Virginia Glies. Growing up in Pittsburgh alongside her siblings, she developed an early love for community and the value of hard work while spending time with and sometimes helping her dad at his local pharmacy. She always considered Pittsburgh her home, and was an avid Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates fan.

Judy earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh, and later received her Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) from Columbia University. Education was not merely Judy’s career; it was her life’s calling. She began in the classroom teaching secondary social studies across high schools in Pittsburgh, California, and Colorado, instilling in young minds a passion for civic awareness and history. After completing her doctorate at Columbia, she joined the faculty at New Jersey City University as a Professor of Education. For decades, Judy devoted her life to mentoring and preparing future generations of secondary teachers, principals, and superintendents. A gifted scholar, she was awarded prestigious educational fellowships and study grants that took her to Yale University and abroad to Norway and Holland. She had a passion for languages, devoting time to learning Greek, Dutch, Italian, and Arabic, and was a voracious reader who could never bear to put down a captivating book. Judy brought that same cultural appreciation to her kitchen table, delighting in preparing international dishes, sharing culinary techniques, and sparking lively, thoughtful debates about history and politics.

Above all her travels and professional achievements, Judy’s greatest joy was her family. As "Gram Cracker," her warmth, humor, and wisdom were the center of family gatherings. She enjoyed baking with her grandchildren, and teaching them tips and tricks from a lifetime of cooking. Her pride in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was limitless, and she leaves behind a legacy of generosity, intellect, and unconditional love.

Judy was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Virginia Glies; her brother, Henry Glies, and his wife, Betty; and her sister, Mary K. Glies. Her vibrant memory will be forever cherished by her surviving family: her sister, Sandra Klein, and husband, Eneo; her children, Stephanie Cocchia and husband John, Kathy Kioussopoulos, Erica Swearingen, and Eric Swearingen and wife Megan; her grandchildren, Nicole and husband Nathan, Randall, Christine and husband Miguel, Rachael and husband Milos, Avery, Henry, Ellie and Ben; and her beloved great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Emilio, Clyfford, Zoe, and Gia. She is also survived by a loving extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the coming year to honor Judy’s remarkable life and journey. In tribute to her devotion to education, literacy, and inspiring young minds, memorial contributions may be made in Judy’s honor to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.