“When Judy asked me to be the executor of her will, she did so with her signature blend of seriousness and humour. “I’ll make you my executor,” she said, “if you agree to come over once a week so I can teach you how to cook.”
“When Judy asked me to be the executor of her will, she did so with her signature blend of seriousness and humour. “I’ll make you my executor,” she said, “if you agree to come over once a week so I can teach you how to cook.”
Given that we’d drifted from each other somewhat in my own adulthood, it was the perfect opportunity to reconnect — and a glimpse into the generous, spirited woman I’d known all my life. Our weekly dinners became a gift: I learned recipes, yes, but mostly I learned more about Judy’s gratitude, resilience, and unfailing kindness — even in the face of profound hardships.
Judy was like a second mother to me. She and her husband, Andre, were fixtures at family celebrations, their generosity unmistakable. Born in Hungary, Judy had survived the Holocaust, spent time in a refugee camp in Italy, and eventually built a life in Canada with Andre. She faced terrible family losses that could have hardened her. Instead, she chose a different path. “I chose not to live in those dark times,” she told me. “I chose to be grateful for what I have.”
That gratitude became action. Judy and Andre were always stepping in whenever they saw need — taking a second mortgage to help a family after illness, buying essentials for relatives who were struggling, and quietly supporting neighbours and friends as well as underserved communities and organizations.
Judy’s gratitude for North York General was personal and enduring. She and Andre had both received care here many times, and she never missed a chance to show her thanks. After Andre’s surgeries, she would famously send cases of champagne to the team so that doctors and nurses would remember how much their work meant.
Judy (far left) with a young Aileen to her right, celebrates another holiday season with friends.
Years later, when Judy arrived for her COVID vaccine, an orthopedic surgeon who had cared for her in the past recognized her across the room and hurried over, asking if he could give her the shot himself because it would be an honour. Moments like that reflected just how deeply she had connected with her care teams.
She valued that they saw her and Andre as people, not just patients, and that they treated every concern with seriousness and respect. She adored her doctors and always felt she was in good hands. That admiration, coupled with the compassion Andre received in his final days, was what inspired her to make North York General such a priority in her giving.
Judy (far left) with a young Aileen to her right, celebrates another holiday season with friends.
And it is certainly fitting that Judy chose to support North York General’s Areas of Greatest Need in particular. She never wanted her name in lights; she wanted her support to reach wherever it could to do the most good.
Through this legacy, Judy continues to help patients and families across the hospital — exactly as she lived: with kindness, gratitude, and an open heart.
She would be proud.”
Aileen Crowne, Long-Time Friend of Judy Markovich
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