[DeTomaso] The Many Loves of Judy McCartney

Scott Mead Photography scott at scottmeadphotography.com
Wed Apr 25 23:53:27 EDT 2018


I had the pleasure of knowing Judy for 43 wonderful years. Judy and my father bought their Panteras around the same time (late 1975) and joined POCA. I was a mere 6-years-old at the time, and I remember meeting her at a POCA event (I think it was the Rally for the Junior Blind) where she told me “You can call me Mamma Judy. Can I call you Sonny?”

Over the years, we served together on the POCA board, attended tons of events and were there for each other though thick and thin - even when 2,500 miles of ocean separated us. I don’t need to expound on what an incredible woman she was - so many of you knew her as a POCA fixture.  

Deb and I visited Judy at her home three weeks ago. After our customary greeting (“Aloha Mamma Judy.” “Hi sonny.”), we reminisced of our love for Kona and the good old days” of POCA for well over an hour. Her grandson, Chris, commented that she was the most lucid he had seen her in a few weeks. As we were leaving, I told her that I’d give her a “pass” for not coming to the Fun Rally this year, but I expected to see her smiling face next year. She replied “I’ll be there.”

While Judy won’t be with us in person, her spirit will remain with all of us - at every Fun Rally, every event and every twist of the ignition key in our DeTomasos. Rest In Peace, Mamma Judy. God speed at the red line. 



Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 25, 2018, at 7:12 PM, Effie Richards <erichards at zogob.sdcoxmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Judy M was an icon, a girlie woman but stronger than life, totally dedicated to the DeTomaso brand.
> I first met her and her son Jeff, on our trip to the DeTomaso factory in Modena, Italy the year 1996. 
> She was a fantastic Pantera lover and I first heard her story about her car in San Diego, when our club hosted the Rally. I have always looked for her at every Pantera event, and have a great photo with her and Jay Leno in Vegas. Rest In Peace my friend and our condolences to her family.
> <image1.jpeg>
> 
> 
> Sent from Effie's iPad
> 
>> On Apr 25, 2018, at 5:27 PM, Larry-Ohio Time Corp <Larry at ohiotimecorp.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I have only had the pleasure of meeting Judy a few times. But I have know
>> her from this form, as I know many of you. Over the past 20 years I have
>> read most if not all of her postings. You always knew how she felt about
>> something, a very special trait.
>> 
>> God Bless and rest in peace Judy.
>> 
>> Larry - Cleveland
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at server.detomasolist.com] On Behalf
>> Of Laurie Ferrari via DeTomaso
>> Sent: April 25, 2018 8:12 PM
>> To: detomaso at server.detomasolist.com
>> Subject: [DeTomaso] The Many Loves of Judy McCartney
>> 
>> 
>> The Many Loves of Judy Mc Cartney, most notably for her Pantera
>> I just now learned of Judy's passing.  It's sad to lose old friends.  I had
>> written this story about Judy about a year or more ago, but she wasn't in a
>> great mood at the time and I didn't feel like sharingjust then.  I now wish
>> to give people whodid not know her or know her well, some insight into Judy
>> in better times, as she has beenan integral fixture and part of POCA's
>> history. 
>>                            *       *      *        *      *     *      *
>> *     *
>> After a several hour phone call with Judy the other eveningthat lasted until
>> the wee hours of the morning and only ended because her phonebattery died, I
>> learned a great deal of her amazing past.  The original purpose of my call
>> was to getthe contact information on a new member as Judy has been the
>> MembershipChairperson of POCA since 1993 and one of a rare breed. She'll be
>> quick to remind you, she's been a POCAmember for forty years!    
>> Judy is that sweet, but can be salty, little ladyof small stature, blond
>> hair, adorned with Pantera earrings (that she got from me),and who greets
>> you at the registration table for our yearly rallies and is seenat almost
>> every POCA function she is able to attend.   Presentlyher chapter
>> affiliation is with TPOC, Team Pantera Orange County, but hasbelonged to
>> CHPIE and Foothill Chapters in her earlier years.  What people may not know
>> is that Judy hasowned her 1972 Pantera since November 7, 1975 which she
>> purchased as a singlelady of thirty- seven.  She claims withpride that she
>> celebrates its birthday every year on that day.  How she happened to seek
>> out a Pantera is an interestingtale.  Judy's then boss for a
>> packagingcompany was picking up his Corvette from a Lincoln Dealership where
>> it had beenserviced.   Surprisingly he came back minus the Corvettebut with
>> a new Pantera in its place. Judy had a chance to drive it and was so
>> enthralled with the car's powerand sound of the engine that she immediately
>> decided she must have her own.  Her car was soon thereafter found at
>> aGoodyear Tire Shop on Harbor Boulevard and was purchased for $9,000.
>> Judy also girlishly takes pride in relaying that she gotseven tickets her
>> first year of ownership and subsequently so many that she waswarned by local
>> officers that if she got one more, she'd lose her license.  She thus took
>> her passion to the racetrackand there she really became acquainted with her
>> lead foot at such places asTerminal Island Raceway. Her second husband,
>> Rick, an avid car and boat racer,taught her the intricacies of racing.
>> Like an old time love story, Judy's tale isone of enduring love through the
>> years. She had met Rick in 1956 while on a date with another fellow.  It was
>> love at first sight but it wasn'tuntil twenty years later that they
>> eventually wed in Las Vegas.  That was years after her marriage to first
>> husband,Fred Johnson, with whom she had two sons.  Rick, she says, was the
>> first great love in her life.  Sadly she lost him to cancer in 1988. 
>> As we spoke, Judy carried on side conversations with herother loves, her two
>> sons, one visiting from Palm Desert, Brad, and her otherson Jeff who is also
>> a member and on the board of TPOC.  She mentioned it is Jeff who most likely
>> will someday carryon the family tradition as the proud owner of her
>> treasured Pantera. Heryoungest love is her grandson, Chris, now twenty-four
>> years old and who she hasraised since he was five. Her littlest love is her
>> Himalayan kitty cat.  
>> Judy's stories are too numerous and lengthy for thiscondensed biography but
>> if you ever stop her at the next event, no doubt shewill captivate you with
>> POCA trivia from the past.  She retells of her close friendships withmany of
>> the founding members of POCA, her dating history, and her never
>> endingaffection for her Pantera which has survived a few mishaps as has she.
>> Another of her close friends is Santiago DeTomasoand Judy explained how she
>> asked him to research the special blue color shedesired for her car
>> (originally yellow.) He obliged and located the code. It's an older Toyota
>> color, same blueas used on France Krup's SI Targa Car.  Thecar was
>> beautifully repainted by Jorge Atlas Body and Paint.  She also gave praise
>> to one of her favorite technicians, Tommy Hodges.
>> Judy may be tiny in appearance but don't underestimate thefact that she is a
>> fierce fighter. She has undergone heartbreaking loses in herlifetime and has
>> battled many challenges to her health including a serious incident
>> sufferedat a TPOC Christmas luncheon in 2014. She's ever so grateful to
>> astute members who noticed something was wrong and called 911 and insisted
>> she was taken to the hospital.   She remained at UC Irvine for five days.
>> She further shared that she is currentlymanaging other serious issues.  She
>> has a wonderful supportive network of her loving family and great friends.
>> Here's a salute to Judy for her many yearsof service to POCA and her
>> dedication and love of Panteras.
>>  *      *      *     *      *
>> Rest in Peace Judy and thank you for all the goodmemories!
>> 
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