Judith G. Preysnar

Judith G. Preysnar, born in Washington, DC on October 14, 1945, died at her home in Bethesda, MD after a short battle with cancer. Judy was a graduate of Northwestern High School and the University of Maryland.

Judy spent her early work years in the Washington office of the Boeing Company, during a time when it played a major role in NASA’s Apollo Project. Judy worked her way up in the organization first as an account rep and then as a sales rep selling time shares for Boeing Computer Services (BCS). After stints with Wang and Sybase, she spent the last years of her career with BMC Software, where she developed capture strategies for the Department of Defense and the US Postal Service.

In 2005, Judy’s life took a dramatic turn when she suffered a devastating stroke. Her focus then became recovering her life as best she could. The severity of her aphasia and apraxia made communication very difficult without significant support. For twenty years, she worked with therapists at the Stroke Comeback Center, where she improved her speech and writing skills, learned to text, draft emails, and order an Uber. Her cheerful presence at the Center several days a week gave others suffering from debilitating strokes the courage to try to get better, and, at the same time, it provided her with a supportive community where she could just be herself and enjoy life.

When she could, Judy loved hosting her friends and family, putting out the extensive collection of decorations she had for any and all holidays. Judy loved to travel with the people she cared about. With her closest friends, she sailed throughout the Caribbean, and on the Volga River in Russia; explored China and Hong Kong; and travelled extensively throughout Europe to France, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, and Majorca. She also visited numerous cities in the United States and Canada. Her last overseas trip was with her brother Thom to visit Australian friends with whom they had maintained a strong relationship despite the distance.

Judy loved flowers, especially roses, and one of her favorite things was sitting on her stoop and greeting her neighbors as they passed by with their dogs. Judy lit up around dogs, and, if she had anything to say about it, no pup would pass without getting her enthusiastic love and pats.

Judy was predeceased by her devoted brother, Thom Gilbert; her parents, Randolph and Margaret Gilbert; beloved stepmother, Vivian Gilbert; and brother, Randolph Gilbert, Jr. She is survived by her stepchildren, Karen and Kevin Preysnar; her grandson, Jack; and many dear friends.

There will be a viewing from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on October 16, 2026 at Joseph Gawler’s Sons, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20016 and a funeral service the following morning, October 17, 2026, at 11:00 am at the same address. A private burial will follow. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Stroke Comeback Center (https://strokecomebackcenter.org) in Judy’s memory.