Judith Buchholz Greene

Judith “Judy” Simpson Buchholz Greene, of West Hills, CA, passed away surrounded by family on June 20, 2026, following a sudden decline in her health. She was only 76 years old.

Judy was born on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1949, in Alexandria, Virginia, the daughter of Margaret “Peggy” Brown and Donald “Pete” M. Buchholz. She was raised in Washington, D.C., and Chevy Chase, MD, where she came of age during a period of extraordinary cultural change and graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in the iconic Summer of Love of 1967.

Embracing the revolutionary music of the day, she loved recounting the story of seeing her favorite bands, including Jefferson Airplane and Three Dog Night, in the summer of ‘69 at the Atlantic City Pop Festival. She said “Why would I go to a small farm in upstate New York two weeks after the Atlantic City Pop Festival? No one's ever heard of Woodstock.”

At 20 years old, drawn by the promise of a fresh start, sunshine, and a dear friend's wedding, Judy moved to Southern California in the summer 1970. She soon found work for herself in what would ultimately be a 47-year long career for her in title insurance. Not usually the kind of work every flowerchild of the 60s was looking for, however, during one fateful evening at a work event for American Title, she and her future husband, Brian, would find themselves starting down the path of their 53-year marriage.

Judy and Brian began bringing up their burgeoning family during the glory days of latchkey parenting in Alhambra before moving to Canoga Park and eventually settling in West Hills to raise five outstanding sons. These years were full of family outings such as camping and summer vacations, youth sports, and school events. One annual event stood head above the rest though, and that was Christmas. Judy loved Christmas. Being a Christmas miracle baby herself, is it any wonder? But just so we’re clear, December 24th was not Christmas Eve, it was Judy’s birthday, full stop.

While family life had its ups and downs, Judy made a fateful decision at the age of 35 that would change the lives of everyone around her and everyone she met.

On April 12, 1985, Judy began her journey of sobriety. Throughout the past 41 years, Judy befriended, helped, supported, mentored, and sponsored numerous women on their own paths to sobriety. She upheld the values of the 12 steps of A.A., as well as the anonymity of everyone who put their faith in her. She provided comfort, a listening ear and so much more for people at such a vulnerable time in their lives, sharing her own experience, strength, and hope. Judy had an enormously positive impact on the lives of so many people.

What drew so many to Judy was her generous spirit and sharp wit. She was such a wonderful and caring soul with a deeply irreverent, slightly sardonic sense of humor. One of the more subtle, yet enduring, qualities everyone in her life was so grateful for was that she remembered everyone's birthday and would send them a card. A small gesture that would raise your spirits and put a smile on your face when doing a simple task like getting your mail. A way for her to let you know that she was always thinking about you.

Judy was an avid reader, particularly of Stephen King and Danielle Steel. She loved going to the movies to see new releases of Disney or Marvel films (just how many “Groot” toys does one adult woman need?), as well as watching the classics on TV, like the screwball comedies of the 30’s & 40’s, anything with Cary Grant, and tearjerkers such as “I Remember Mama” or “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.” But her favorite, was the annual spring showing of “A Wizard of Oz.” Judy loved listening to different genres of music. She loved the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Diana Ross, Motown, Barbra Streisand, Rod Stewart, and so many more. She always had music on for anything she did around the house.

She enjoyed rooting for both the Dodgers and the Lakers every season, where the family would gather around the TV for many nailbiter Lakers playoffs and championship games. After she retired in 2017, she and Brian had more time to work on building jigsaw puzzles, a tradition they began together in the early 1970s. But her favorite part about retirement: more time to spend with her grandchildren! Remember her love for Christmas? Well, now she got to do what grandmas do best during the holidays. She loved being referred to as Mrs. Claus, and she made sure the house always had fun toys and games for the grandkids to enjoy while spending time with her.

We’d be remiss not to mention Judy’s incredible sweet tooth: loaded pancakes with fruit and whipped cream, her beloved chocolate, and if a restaurant offered milkshakes, you knew there would be one in her hands.

Judy was preceded in death by her mother, Margaret “Peggy” Brown Tyler Buchholz (1991), and her father, Donald “Pete” Murry Buchholz (2004).

She is survived by her husband, Brian H. Greene; her sister, Rev. Paige R. Buchholz; her sons, Andrew S. Greene, Eric M. Greene, Sean R. Greene, Adam Y. Greene, and Noel H. Greene; sister-in-law, Betsy J. Deeter; son-in-law, Daniel J. Hlad; daughter-in-law, Naomi Hyland; her nieces Isabel G. Deeter and Emebet J. Deeter; and her grandchildren, Maxwell J. Greene, Cindy Greene, Katie D. Greene, Daniel S. Greene, and Anneka R. Greene.

A tradition Judy passed down to her kids from her own mother was to look to the skies when the sunshine breaks through the clouds. She said that it was your loved ones who are no longer with us looking down on us, so always make sure you tell them how much you love them, because they are always with us.

Because Judy will always be with us.

A memorial service celebrating Judy’s life will be held on July 31, 2026, at Alex Banquet Hall in Winnetka, CA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank or Alcoholics Anonymous, organizations whose missions Judy valued and supported.