Carmel

Judy Tatelbaum was born in Rochester, New York, the daughter of Esther Beckler Tatelbaum, and Abraham J. Tatelbaum, MD, a renowned Obstetrician and Gynecologist.

Her only sibling, David, died in an automobile accident at 20, when she was 17. This loss was the foundation for her extensive work with grief. She graduated Cum Laude from Syracuse University just before her 21st birthday in 1959, and was a top student achieving a master’s degree from Simmons College School of Social Work, 1961.

She worked for two years as a Psychiatric Social Worker at Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Boston, and then for eight years at Payne Whitney Clinic, New York City. While in NYC she was also a supervisor for several 2nd year social work students from Columbia University and had a small private therapy practice.

After training in Gestalt Therapy with Jim Simkin, PHD in 1972 in Big Sur, California, she moved to Carmel Valley, California and began her psychotherapy practice with individuals and groups.

Judy was committed to encouraging people to face and recover from life's inevitable crises courageously, and to showing people new possibilities for creating satisfying lives. Over her lifetime, Judy was an inspirational psychotherapist, workshop leader, professional speaker, trainer and educator. For several years she traveled all over the U.S. and also to France, London and Frankfurt to do lectures, workshops and trainings on dealing with grief and loss. She did several similar weekend workshops in the adult extension programs at Cal Poly and Berkeley Universities.

She was a volunteer for Grief, AIDS, Hospice and other health related causes. Congressmen Sam Farr and Henry Mello honored her for her eight years on the Monterey County AIDS Advisory board, for which she was chairperson for 3 years. At the same time, she led several groups and trainings as a volunteer at the Monterey County AIDS Project, and John 23rd AIDS Ministry.

She was best known for her groundbreaking book, THE COURAGE TO GRIEVE.

Since 1980 it has been read by millions. She was equally proud of her second book YOU DON'T HAVE TO SUFFER, and later a fable she wrote about afterlife entitled THE JOURNEY FROM THE LAND OF FOREVER FLOWERS. In 2018 she published abook comprised of 102 of her monthly inspirational newsletter articles entitled INSPIRATION FOR LIVING.

From aprofile she wrote about herself: “All of my life, Ihave been achampion of the underdog, interested in subjects that were not popular, like death, loss, and grief, and concerned with questions about why people live? Why people die? How do people survive traumatic circumstances? What does it take to overcome a fatal disease? What causes healing? These pursuits stimulate me and enliven my life. And I like engaging in areas that are less popular, perhaps even secret -like death.”

Her greatest loves were her husband, Allan Marcus who died at age 74 of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy on 6/6/16, her friends, family, her dogs, writing, reading, films, and computer scrabble. She leaves her sister-in-law, Lynn Richards, Allan’s two sons, Dan (Iiana) and Bill (Margaret) and four grandchildren, many friends and clients, and her beloved dog, Lovey.

Donations in Judy’s memory may be sent to FUND FOR HOMELESS WOMEN c/o Community Foundation of Monterey Peninsula 2354 Garden Road Monterey 93940 or PLANNED PARENTHOOD MARMONTE 316 North Main Street Suite #100 Salinas, CA 93901 or PEACE OF MIND DOG RESCUE 615 Forest Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950.

Friends are invited to A Celebration of Judy’s Life which will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 2:00 at the Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula, 4590 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. More information or to respond please contact ziona.goren@gmail.com