Judith Smith Wainwright

Judith (“Judy”) Smith Wainwright: December 17, 1940 – June 14, 2022 (Formerly of York, ME; Scituate and Cohasset, MA; and Palm Coast, FL) Judith (Judy), the daughter of Velma Kelley Smith and Robert Smith was born in Winchester, MA. Known by her family as “Ace” for her skill and proficiency at fishing and baking her famous chocolate chip cookies, Judy passed away peacefully at Duncaster in Bloomfield, CT. Judy grew up in Winchester, MA and spent her summers at Rexham Beach in Marshfield, MA. There she developed her love of the ocean and, particularly fishing, a pastime she instilled in her children. She graduated from House In The Pines boarding school in Norton, MA and later graduated from Parsons College in Iowa, where she met her first husband, Richard Mantz. She lived and raised her family in Cohasset, MA. Judy was a devoted and caring mother to her son, Doug Mantz and daughter, Coleby (Mantz) Mancini, offering love and support while granting freedom to make mistakes (often exploited by one of her children). She was funny and—at times—impulsive, often pulling her children out of school under the guise of a phantom doctor’s appointment to chase storms, see beached whales, or watch Coast Guard water rescues from shore. If she saw a fire truck or police car speeding in the opposite direction, it was not uncommon for her to pull a U-turn and follow the sirens to the scene, often neglecting whatever it was that she had planned for the day. Nobody could butcher an adage like Ace, e.g.: “a rolling stone gathers no dust” or “I can’t see the trees for the forest”. Above all, Ace was probably best known for her fishing prowess. She entered the Cohasset Yacht Club annual fishing tournament every year for almost 20 years with an all-female team called the “Happy Hookers”. With Coleby as her trusty first mate, they would bring in guest contestants each year (friends and granddaughters—no men allowed) and their success was anything but luck, having won or placed in the top three categories almost every year and still holding the record for the largest Striped Bass ever caught in the tournament. She would always be at the dock at weigh-in to ensure that her record held. She founded and ran two small companies focused on manufacturing products as well as distributing gift items. She sold products to L.L. Bean and shops in MA. She was active and competitive in almost anything she did—including tennis, fishing, and golf—and was never afraid to “bend the rules” in her favor. She was a yoga enthusiast and regularly displayed her flexibility by putting her foot behind her head as recently as this year. She was an avid reader and amateur writer and was proud to have her work published by fishing magazines. Judy loved anything related to the ocean: lighthouses and seashells were amongst her favorite things. After her kids were grown, she moved to her beloved oceanside home at Cedar Point in Scituate, MA, where she regularly watched and enjoyed the excitement of all incoming Nor’easters, much to the consternation of her family. Judy and her late husband, Richard (Dick) Wainwright, also wintered in Florida, and were enthusiastic globetrotters and visited every continent over their 22 years together. She suffered a major stroke in 2011, from which she was not expected to survive. However, with excellent medical care, and the assistance of her loving husband and family, she continued to travel and fish all around the world. She was tough and resilient and bounced back from many physical setbacks. After her stroke, Judy and Dick continued to travel and shared that passion with her children and grandchildren: visiting Ecuador/the Galapagos, The Caribbean, Europe, and enjoyed many fishing trips wherever she went. She was an avid shell collector, with an extensive array of beautiful shells hailing from her many trips to Marco Island and Captiva, FL. Upon the passing of her husband, Dick, in 2021, Judy moved to CT and was a resident at Duncaster’s Memory Care Assisted Living Center (Dogwood). There, she was a well-liked, active, and engaged member of the community and was treated to excellent care during her time as a resident. We thank the wonderful staff at Duncaster for their compassion and kindness over the past year and their assistance during her passing. Judy is survived by her children Doug (and wife Peggy) Mantz and Coleby (and husband Ed) Mancini. Her grandchildren Sarah, Kelley, and Maggie Mantz and Matthew Mancini; sister, Valerie Smith; brother, Robert (and wife Henley) Smith; nephew Michael Smith and niece, Kathryn Smith Sloan. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift in Judy’s memory to: 1) Duncaster Residents’ Association / (Note: in the memo “Thanksgiving Fund -- Judy Wainwright”) sent to 40 Loeffler Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002. Or, 2) Judy’s neurosurgeon’s, Dr. Rose Du’s stroke research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Checks should be made payable to Brigham and Women’s Hospital and sent to Brigham’s Development Office, 116 Huntington Ave 3rd Fl Boston MA 02116. Gifts can also be made online by visiting give.brighamandwomens.org or contacting the Development Office at (617) 424-4300. Judy/Grandma “Ace” will be missed by all.