Kevin L Hennessy, Patricia Diamond Hennessey, Stacy Hennessy and Gerry Rushton are inviting friends and admirers of Judy Hennessey to attend a celebration of life for the late 4-H leader July 26 at the U.S. Equestrian Team Foundation in Gladstone, N.J.
Everyone who considered Judy a friend or family is invited to the 2:30 p.m. gathering. Organizers need to get a rough count of who will be on hand, so those who are coming should email judycelebrationoflife@aol.com to let organizers know the number of people in their party.
Judy, who died in December at age 89, was a dedicated 4-H leader in Somerset County, N.J., for 45 years, She passed on her knowledge of horse care to so many children who, as a result, grew up learning the right way to do the best for their animals. In 2016, she was named New Jersey Horseperson of the Year.
Judy had a varied work life. She was the first female groom to go overseas with the U.S. Equestrian Team (her favorite team horse was the tall and impressive San Lucas, Frank Chapot’s Pan Am Games medal mount).
The Bridgewater resident helped Jim Wiebe when his saddlery business was in Oldwick, assisted veterinarian Dr. John Walsh and until shortly before she passed away, worked alongside her dog, Mollie, at Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in Hunterdon County.