Judith Ann Hauptman McGarrie ’61 (CLAS)

Judith “Judi” Ann McGarrie, 80, of Wilmington, NC, passed away Friday, February 19, 2021, at Davis Health Care Center.

Judi was born September 10, 1940 in Morristown, NJ, a daughter of the late Arthur C. Hauptman and Helen Seeber Hauptman. Her brother, Michael Hauptman, preceded her in death.

Judi was a gentle woman, with a kind heart and a soft-spoken voice.  She had a lifelong love of young children and animals, particularly cats. Her gentle ways were anchored by a strong moral compass and her belief system.  She believed in honesty, integrity, kindness and equality.

Judi was a devout reader and had a true love of education.  She graduated second in her class as Salutatorian of Ridgefield High School in Connecticut and went on to study Sociology and Psychiatry and graduated with Honors from the University of Connecticut.    After graduating from college, she worked in various fields before starting a family.  After many years of being a devoted mother at home to her two young children, she returned to work as a Librarian in the Mattapoisett Public Library. Judi also worked in an inclusive classroom setting with special needs students as an educational aide.  In her retirement years, she volunteered at the local public library in Wilmington, NC.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 59 years, John J. McGarrie; daughter, Elizabeth E. McGarrie and her fiancé, Dr. Michael Benninghoff, of  PA; son, Timothy J. McGarrie and his wife, August Dow McGarrie, of Gorham, ME; four grandchildren, Kayla St. Amand, Jenna Benninghoff, Elana Benninghoff, and Ava Benninghoff; two sisters, Dawn Flewellen and her husband, Solomen, of Albuquerque, NM and Laurie Hauptman of Orlando, FL; and two brothers, Stephen Hauptman and his wife, Jane, of Brunswick, ME and David Hauptman of Orlando, FL.