In Memory of Judy Gill
Judy Gill, emerita director of the Writing Center and English instructor
Dear Colleagues,
I am deeply saddened to inform you of the passing of emerita director of the Writing Center and English instructor Judy Gill, a respected and beloved member of our academic community for nearly 30 years. Although I did not have the opportunity to know Judy, I have received several wonderful tributes from her Dickinson colleagues some of which I have incorporated into this message.
Born Aug. 14, 1943, in South Bend, Ind., Judy was the daughter of David Arthur and Vivian Pittman. She earned her B.A. in English with a minor in political science from the University of Arizona, followed by an M.A. in Middle English language and literature from Cornell University, where she also served as a graduate teaching fellow for two years. While in Arizona, Judy married Sanford Schwartz, who later became a professor of English at Shippensburg University until his death in February 1984. Judy taught at Shippensburg University and Gettysburg College before joining Dickinson as instructor in English in the summer of 1984. The following spring, she was appointed director of the Writing Center, retiring in 2011. It was at Dickinson that Judy met her husband, Christopher Gill ’88.
Judy quickly became an essential, beloved presence. Initially hired to teach expository writing, she soon demonstrated exceptional talent, going on to lead first-year and senior seminars, thesis workshops, the Writing Center, and the Cumberland Valley Fiction Workshop. Known for reading every new novel before anyone else, she was also a cherished friend whose warmth, humor, calm presence and extraordinary baking were legendary.
As a colleague, Judy was universally admired for her generosity, humility and ability to bring people together. She had a quiet charisma that helped others do their best work and never sought credit for herself. Students and colleagues alike remembered her as an acute listener who offered clear, understated insight. Though known as a stickler and tough grader, Judy’s classes were always among the most popular, with her contemporary fiction classes being described by former students as life-altering. She cultivated a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere—insisting on being called “Judy”—while maintaining high standards that helped others grow as writers, coworkers and people.
Judy served the college with distinction in roles that were every bit as vital as they were behind the scenes, including serving as a member of the General Education Committee, Dana Internship Committee, Housing Board, The Dickinsonian Board of Governors, Archives Policy Committee and several others. She was also actively involved with Phi Beta Kappa, serving as secretary and on the scholarship and nominations committees. Judy was awarded the Distinguished Academic Professional Award in 2000 and was a member of the International Writing Centers Association and the National Council of Teachers of English.
Professor of Educational Studies Noreen Lape shared a beautiful tribute to her colleague and friend, which included the following: “As I was transitioning into my work as Writing Program/Writing Center director, Judy was transitioning into retirement. When I look back on that time, I consider myself lucky to have been mentored by her. She was a true professional whose every word and action was for the good of the Dickinson community, an ethos of generosity that transcended personal ambition. She was incredibly kind and gracious, seeking to bring out the best in people (a writing center practice turned into life practice). She found her greatest joy in her writing center work and her relationships with tutors, many of whom she mentored into successful careers.”
Another very close colleague, Wendy Moffat, emerita professor of English and Curley Chair Emerita in Global Education, shared that Judy “was an incomparable friend; you could tell her anything; she would make you roar with laughter; sitting still beside her made you feel at peace; she was a consummate baker, and each perfect chocolate cake was from a different recipe. She was, however, a Red Sox fan.”
Judy and Chris were loyal donors to the college as members of both the Mermaid and Old West societies. To recognize Judy for her many years of service to the college, her late father-in-law George Gill ’54 established the Judy Gill Professional Development Fund for Writing Center Tutors, which has a profound impact on the student tutors and those who benefit from their good guidance.
There are no services planned at this time, but memorial contributions can be made to the Eberly Writing Center Fund at Dickinson or any animal shelter.
Judy’s legacy at the college is measured not only in the programs she strengthened and the committees she served, but in the countless lives she touched with her generosity, intellect and unwavering commitment to helping others find their voice. Her impact will continue to echo through the Eberly Writing Center she helped shape, the students she mentored, and the colleagues who were fortunate to call her a friend.
We extend our deepest sympathies to her family, and to all who knew and loved her. Judy will be profoundly missed, but the imprint she left on this community—and the compassion and excellence she modeled—will endure for years to come.
Sincerely,
John E. Jones III ’77, P’11
President