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Marjorie S. Judway, 96, passed away on February 21, 2007. Born April 24, 1910, in London, England, the only child of Cecil William and Maud Montague Southby. In 1911, the English economy was struggling and one day a gentleman walked by watching her father paint. As he left, he said “young man, would you like to come to America and work for me at Cornell University?” Stunned, thrilled, after discussing it with his wife, they started to pack and got passage on the “unsinkable” ship, the Titanic, for her maiden voyage on April 15, 1912.

When he told her mother, she told him “I can’t go, I just read in the Almanac there is to be a ‘disaster at sea’ in mid-April.” Those three words turned her father’s world upside-down, but he did contact the Cunard office, getting passage on the sister ship, the Olympic, sailing three weeks early, arriving April 1, 1912 in New York City and not going through Ellis Island.


She became a naturalized citizen in 1920. Marjorie was the first of three generations to attend Fall Creek Elementary and Ithaca High School, (now the DeWitt Mall), graduating in 1929. She graduated from Ithaca College in 1932, majoring in English and Drama. She met her future husband, Theodore P. Judway, at Ithaca College. They were married on July 1, 1933, his parent’s 40th anniversary, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, in Ithaca. They lived their first year in Owego, NY, returning to Ithaca in June 1934. In 1936, they moved to 816 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca, where they lived until their deaths.

Marjorie retired from Cornell Alumni Office. She was a Life Member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, and Masonic Eastern Stars. She belonged to the Ithaca Junior Guild, Girl Scouts and PTA. She enjoyed doing crafts, and took great pride in her flowers. Marjorie is survived by her daughter, Joan M. Hollenbeck, Ithaca; granddaughter, Sharyl (Jim) Pantaleone, Anchorage, AK; great grandsons, David, Rob and Scott, Anchorage, AK. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Theodore P. Judway; her son, Peter Judway; her son-in-law, Wallace E. Hollenbeck; and grandsons, Scott and Bruce Hollenbeck.

A graveside service will be held at East Lawn Cemetery in the spring, and will be announced at that time. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House, 1027 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13210 or the SPCA, Hanshaw Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850.

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