Judy Black

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Born September 27, 1948

Died November 15, 2015

“I wish to create a garden, a place to relax, to dream, to experience the unfolding of nature. I wish to create a park, a place for friends, neighbors, and children to gather, to explore, to play, to further the spirit of the unique, vibrant and beautiful community of Washington.” —Judy Black

Judy Black, in whose memory the park was named, was an integral part of making this space what it is today. It was her generous leadership gift, made when she was terminally ill with cancer, that helped transform into a magnificent community gathering place an abandoned gas station that had been purchased with funds from generous local donors by the newly formed non-profit Washington Park Foundation. 

Black was born in New York City and grew up there and in Westport, Conn., where she was surrounded by the influences of her artist mother, frequent visitors (both local and international) and time spent outside in nature with her brother. In her university years, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in art history from Barnard College, and then went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in education from the Bank Street College School of Education and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University School of Business.

Following her studies, she worked as an early childhood teacher before launching a successful career in advertising. She specialized in new media, researching and writing about how cable television, and later the internet, could be leveraged for advertising purposes. She traveled the globe extensively for work, visiting far-off places such as New Zealand, Brazil and Finland, to name a few. Her travels also allowed her to discover the beauty of nature all over the world. 

In 1983, Black and her husband, Richard Schlosberg, moved to Washington, Conn. where they spent half of each year (the other half in Florida), and quickly began engaging in the community and forming friendships with other local residents. Black was an active member and then head of the Greater Washington Coalition for Jewish Life, and along with other local congregations, helped organize many interfaith events in the community. In both Connecticut and Florida, she was a passionate gardener and active environmentalist.

“Judy was a serious person and she took flowers seriously. She believed flowers are an integral part of our existence,” explained her husband. “Daffodils were among her favorite flowers.” It was both this love of flowers and gardens, as well as the importance she attached to community, that were the legacy she wanted to leave behind at the park.  

Sadly, Black died on November 15, 2015 before she could see the completion of the park. The trustees held an official dedication ceremony in September 2016 to celebrate the park's opening. Today, The Judy Black Memorial Park & Gardens is a favorite community gathering place for the town of Washington, where people can come and enjoy fellowship with friends in a beautiful setting while taking part in a wide variety of programs and activities hosted by the park throughout the year.