by "Judy's Gang"
Margo Slaughter, Maureen Davis, Norman Chramoff, Eleanor Lyon, and Ken Young
All Images Courtesy of Margo Slaughter's Personal Collection
Judy Van Herpen,
a much loved friend and devoted Judy Garland fan all her life,
known for attending almost every taping of "The Judy Garland Show" CBS series and whom Judy Garland herself called one of her "gang",
sadly passed away in May 2013.
"Our friend (of 50 years!) Judy Van Herpen. It's so hard for me to share my feelings for our friend. I think when you've known someone for that many years, and have gone through so much together, you tend to take things for granted. We shouldn't, I know, but I think that's what we sometimes do.
We were born the same year, in fact. We were both just out of high school in June of l963 - that summer when Judy Garland started taping her Series at CBS Television City. We were all of 17 years old at the time! I felt a bond with Judy from the moment I met her. Of course, we always had the Judy Garland bond. All of us who met because of Judy Garland felt that way. But Judy Van Herpen was someone I felt I'd always known.
Judy was super intelligent, had a GREAT sense of humor, and was fiercely protective of Judy Garland. No one would DARE say anything against her - within earshot of her! I'll forever remember her great smile and quick wit - which are some of the things I always looked forward to whenever we were all able to get together over the years. And the fact that she was a good and decent person. How I wish she had taken better care of herself. I know "Judy's Gang" will never be the same now that she's left us. We all saw Judy Garland so many times together over the years - from TV shows to Vegas, to the Greek Theatre, and on and on and on.
We all love and miss you, Judy. You'll be in our hearts forever."
Love,
Maureen
Maureen
 |
| Judy Van Herpen in her high school years |
"Judy was the best. A loyal true friend. Always funny and down to earth.
 |
| Eleanor, Maureen, Margo and Judy VH patiently waiting outside of CBS Television City in December 1963 |
Even though we didn't talk as much as she and Margo (Slaughter) did, whenever we did spend time together, it was like yesterday was the last time.
I will miss her forever."
xoxoxo,
Elly
"As I look back at our fifty years of friendship, I know that I am the better for the fifty years she gave me. I was eleven when we met and she was my first experience with a wit extraordinaire! She was so smart, sharp and funny. Three years ago, when she drove us to San Diego for the strangest Judy concert ever, we had such fun. We never stopped talking and laughing that whole trip. It was as if fifty -- ouch! -- years hadn't passed.
 |
| Reunions of "Judy's Gang" at CBS-TV City - in 1978 and 2003. |
We lived one of the greatest and luckiest experience ever. Glad that we shared so much and she will forever be in my heart and in my funny bone! If she read this she would be complaining about my grammar. I am sure that she continues clipping articles as we speak…"
Norman
"When we were kids hanging out at CBS, I remember Judy's quick-wit sense of humor. Rapid-response quipster! We kept in touch via mail (remember that?) and reunited 40+ years later at our first Bench-kids reunion with George Sunga at CBS, that I believe Judy organized. Judy, Margo, Maureen, Elly, Norman and I all got together a few years later in the Valley. I'll always treasure our times together…
Speaking of "mail", I have a Judy-Traveling Postcard Story to share. When Judy VH and the Wenches went to see Judy Garland in Vegas, I couldn't be there but Judy VH sent me a beautiful JG picture postcard. On the back of the card, Judy VH signed it "Love, Judy."
Over the years, I often wondered what happened to that postcard. But after my bud, Al DiOrio passed, his sister found it going through his collection! I think I had lent it to Al when he was writing "Little Girl Lost." Thinking the message was written by Judy Garland herself, she sent it to me that Christmas -- where it sits on my computer desk today.
Ken
