Judith J. Ballester

Judith Johnson Ballester, 75, passed away on January 25, 2024, in Sacramento, California. She was born in Tiverton Rhode Island in 1948 to Margaret and Walworth Johnson. She grew up in Dover, New Hampshire with her brother Wally and sister Margaret. She attended Woodman Park School and St. Thomas Aquinas high school. Afterwards she studied political science at the University of New Hampshire where she met her ex-husband. They lived in Oxford and London England for many years. When she returned to the United States she worked at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire and as a librarian for Garrison School in Dover New Hampshire where her daughter attended at the time. She worked for RMC Research for over 30 years until her retirement in Portsmouth New Hampshire. She enjoyed the work and people at RMC very much.

When her daughter moved to California and started a family, she relocated to Sacramento. There she became a wonderful grandmother and got to spend a lot of time with her granddaughter and daughter. In Sacramento she made many new friends and joined the Sacramento Women’s Chorus.

Through the years she was an avid reader and gardener and loved her many dogs and cats. She loved traveling and made many wonderful memories with her daughter on their travels. Her favorite place was always near the ocean on both coasts in Portsmouth/Rye and in Mendocino/Sea Ranch.        

She is survived by her daughter Nicola, son in-law Justin, granddaughter Vienna, and sister Margaret. She was a very loving mother and grandmother (Nana) who was always there when you needed her. She will be missed by all those who knew her.