I recorded three eulogies, and have gathered transcripts of some others.The speakers were:
- James Ratner, (transcript), the Chairman and CEO of Forest City Commercial Group. Judith worked more closely with Jimmy than with any other of the Ratners, who were the founding family of Forest City Enterprises, and who, during Judith's tenure there, were in at least their third leadership generation in the company. The Ratners have maintained an amazing record of generous and distinguished generosity and civic leadership.
- Bob Baldwin (on video), Judith's dear cousin, who gave the "biographical" eulogy. Bob and his wife, Barbara, lived in Cleveland when we moved here, though they have moved away. They welcomed and embraced us warmly, and we became and remain very close friends. They now live near Houston, Texas.
- Sam Miller (transcript), co-Chairman Emeritus of Forest City Enterprises, and a civic icon in Cleveland. He was the first person to visit Judith in the hospital the day after her initial emergency surgery in 2003. He and Judith became very close after that. He was a dear friend and personal and professional mentor to her, and she brightened his life. (You may contact me if you wish to see a video of his very moving eulogy.) Read some remembrances of Sam, who died at age 97 in 2019.
- Albert Ratner, also co-Chairman Emeritus of Forest City Enterprises, and a civic icon himself, though less publicly visible than Sam. Albert and Judith often worked and traveled together, and he was unquestionably a professional mentor. (I also have a video of Albert's eulogy which I can share upon request.)
- Bob O'Brien, (transcript), Forest City's Chief Financial Officer. Bob was President of Forest City Finance when he hired Judith in 1996, and then she succeeded him in that position when he was promoted to CFO of the parent company. So he was her primary boss during her time at Forest City. Her regard for him was one of the reasons she pursued a job at Forest City in the first place, and they had a warm and close working relationship for over 16 years.
- Geri Presti (transcript), Forest City's General Counsel. Geri was Judith's closest friend at work, as they shared their experiences with aging parents and growing boys, as well as ongoing close work collaboration. Geri and her husband, John Sedor, were good friends of Judth and me.
- Kathy Kelly, a neighbor and friend. Kathy is delivering our nephew, Gregory, to college across town as I write this.
- Barbara Baldwin, wife of Bob, who was so instrumental in making us feel at home in Cleveland. She, Judith, and Laura Stout, who preceded Judith in death from cancer by only three months, were very, very close, and Barbara provided incredible support for - and was devastated by the loss of - both Laura and Judith.
- Renee Copfer, Judith's dearest friend in Cleveland, and a force of nature herself. She and Judith walked together regularly and shared many of life's travails.
- Hannah McMonagle, our sister-in-law, and the mother of our beloved Gregory and Daniel.
- My Dad, Clarence Richmond (transcript), who, like all of my family, loved Judith as one of his own.
- My Mother, Valle Richmond, who spoke briefly, beutifully, and extemporaneously.
- Robin Richmond - me, the broken-hearted husband. A snowstorm was blanketing the city, and we needed to cut the event short. After expressing my love for Judith, and her amazing unqualified love for me, I thanked Forest City, their executives, and Judith's staff for their overwhelming support for her during her illness, introduced a few visitors, and called it a night.)