Judith Linden ’73
EDGAR “DUSTY” BREDBENNER JR. ’50 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD
This award, named to honor one of the most involved alumni in college history, is presented to alumni who have demonstrated outstanding loyalty and service to Ithaca College over a long period of time. It is the highest award the alumni association presents.
Judi Linden received her BA degree in English from Ithaca College 1973, having served as a Resident Advisor and studied abroad in London. She met her husband Jay (Park ‘72) in the first co-ed dorm at IC; they’ve been married for over 50 years!
After graduation, she became Director of Alumni Programs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; the first woman to work in the Office of External Affairs.
At age 26, Judi was appointed Executive Director of the Queens Symphony Orchestra, transitioning it from a community orchestra to a fully professional organization serving a borough of over 2 million.
She spent 8 years as a consultant to the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, where she created “Cultural Collaborative Jamaica,” designed to link the arts with economic development.
In the late 1990’s Judi began a long-term collaboration with world-renowned violinist Midori in founding Midori & Friends, which provides underserved New York City students with opportunities to enhance their education. Over the next 14 years, Judi served as Executive Director and ultimately President while growing the organization, which now serves over 10,000 children annually and recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.
In 2002, Judi was elected to the Ithaca College Board of Trustees, on which she served for 10 years on both the Institutional Advancement and Trusteeship Committees. During that time, she and Jay invested time and resources to develop and support creative aging programs at IC.
They reside in Great Neck and Quogue, NY where they have recently supported a new program called “Music and Memories” at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center near their home on the east end of Long Island. Judi also co-leads an innovative “Wise Aging” program, offered to seniors from their 60 to 90’s.
As a mentor and advisor to many non-profit professionals, Judi has established lifelong connections with many volunteers, donors and staff members. Her most rewarding retirement project is becoming “Grammie” to five grandchildren, spending lots of time with them, which is precious to her and Jay.
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