Judith "Judy" O'Neill Burgert

Judith (“Judy”) O’Neill Burgert passed away peacefully with her son and daughter in attendance on January 31, 2025, at her home in Tallahassee, Florida. She is survived by her daughter Aimée Burgert Savage of New York City, her son Woodward Burgert, III, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, her sister Deborah O’Neill Aspinwall of Mystic, Connecticut, and five grandchildren. Her grandchildren are Acacia Ruth Savage, Claudia Gail Savage, James Maxwell Savage, Everett Hilton Burgert and Ruth Helen Burgert. In addition, she is survived by her daughter-in-law Jessica Wright Burgert, and her son-in-law Colin Maxwell Savage. She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. Woodward Burgert, Jr. Judy was born Judith Gail O’Neill in Boston Lying-in Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, to parents Forrest Albert O’Neill, Jr. and Florence Juanita Van Eck O’Neill, and was raised in Weymouth, Massachusetts. She completed a secretarial degree at Chandler School for Women in Boston in 1960 after graduating from Weymouth High School in 1958, and then worked for a short time in a secretarial capacity at the United Fruit Company in Boston. Coincidentally, her boss at the time was Charles Fleischman, who she later discovered had fond memories of visiting his grandmother Louise Fleischman Maclay at her winter home in Tallahassee, formerly Killearn Plantation and Gardens, now known as the Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park. In 1962 Judy moved to New York City to begin the next chapter in her life. In New York Judy joined Trans World Airlines (TWA) as a stewardess, the first class to ever train solely on jets, which she was always proud to proclaim. She developed a love of travel during this phase in her life that would remain with her forever. She was able to do some modeling in her travels, including modeling for “Madame Chanel” in Paris, which was always a very fond memory of hers. On a flight to Hong Kong she met a childhood friend of her future husband Woodward “Woody” Burgert who later connected the couple as they were both living in New York City – Woody was completing his medical studies at Cornell University Medical School during this period. The couple married on March 6, 1965, while Woody was on leave from the Army (where he served as a Medical Officer in the 82nd Airborne Division, 173rd Airborne Brigade). The young couple lived for a year in Okinawa before Woody’s brigade joined the Vietnam War. After completing his military service, they returned to New York City and then moved to Syracuse while Woody completed his medical training. During this time Judy earned a degree in Interior Design from the New York School of Design. The couple moved to Tallahassee with their one-year-old son Woody III in 1971, so Woody, Jr. could start work with a small pathology group affiliated with Tallahassee Memorial Hospital (now known as Ketchum, Wood and Burgert). Daughter Aimée was born in 1972. Judy enjoyed living in Tallahassee but still loved to travel. In 1977 she and a friend opened the doors to an upscale clothing boutique in Carriage Gate shops. Later when Judy assumed sole ownership the shop would come to be known as “Judy’s Design Studio”. Judy kept this thriving business open until the mid-1990’s when her distaste of Grunge fashion, which was influencing her favorite high-fashion designers, led her to the decision to close her store rather than sell clothes that she was not passionate about. Her business gave Judy an excuse to travel up to New York City every 2 months each year for buying trips, for stylish haircuts, and to keep up to date with the exciting worlds of high fashion and the New York culinary scene. Judy was an avid cook and enjoyed making recipes she would cut out from the New York Times, and to her last days enjoyed drinking her morning coffee while reading the New York Times. Besides a love of travel and fashion, Judy loved animals. She had her own procession of terriers through the years, primarily Scotties, and her morning walks with her dogs through her neighborhood was a ritual and made her a familiar sight. She also donated to a profusion of charities united by their protection of endangered species and care for animals closer to home. She continued to be an active traveler even after the passing of her husband Woody, Jr. in April of 2004, and at the end of her lifetime stated that she had seen all but 3 countries in the world. She also passed on her joys of travel and wildlife to her grandchildren by taking her extended family on safari in Africa and to The Galapagos Islands. In her earlier years she was active in the Junior League of Tallahassee, the Garden Club, and the Altar Guild of St. Johns Episcopal Church of Tallahassee. In her later years she became a regular worshipper at All Saints Episcopal Church in Thomasville, Georgia, and also enjoyed services at St. Thomas Church in Thomasville, Georgia, and Church of the Advent in Tallahassee. A memorial service is planned for Judy on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 2pm, at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Tallahassee. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to Big Bend Hospice, The Nature Conservancy, The World Wildlife Fund, or the Leon County Humane Society. Rocky Bevis and Kelly Barber of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) are assisting the Burgert family with their arrangements.

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Judith "Judy" O'Neill Burgert

May 12, 1941 - January 31, 2025