Judith Mariah Smith

JUDITH MARIAH SMITH

1940-2015

Judith Mariah Smith passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of June20th after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s.  She was born on February 28, 1940, in Charlotte, Michigan, the eldest of Velma and Lynn H. Potter’s 3 daughters. She graduated from Charlotte High School in 1958.  Later, she obtained her bachelors and masters degrees in psychology from University of Michigan where she helped open The Head and Body Shop, a women’s counseling center considered to be a cutting edge program.

In 1981, she picked up stakes from Michigan and moved to her beloved Mt. Veeder home in the Napa Valley, where she began working for Robert Mondavi Winery.  She proudly spent many years as a Napa Valley College instructor teaching “Assertiveness Training.”  After working in marketing at Mondavi, she opened her own destination management company Alliance, Wine Country Tours, which she ran until her retirement 10 years ago.

Mariah loved any form of entertaining, but her forte was the  theme party, with a specialization in road rallies.  She was also a maven of board and card games, mastering everything from Scrabble to King’s Corners.  She will be missed for her creativity; her quick wit, and her ability to put together a party.

She was predeceased by her sister Linda Rochester.  She is survived by daughter Audrey (Fernando) of Napa, son Todd (Erin) of San Francisco, grandson Jason (Caity) of Washington D.C. and sister Claire Pruden of Michigan.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the NW Parkinson’s Foundation or the charity of your choice.

A gathering in her honor will be held at Compadre’s, 505 Lincoln Ave. Napa at noon on Sunday June 28th.

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