Childhood: Judy Rosenthal was born in Anniston, Alabama to Lucy-Jane Watson Saks and Julien David Saks and moved to Houston when she was four years old. As a young child, she loved art and horseback riding. She went to Bellaire High School and earned a BFA from Sophie Newcomb College at Tulane University in Painting and Sculpture where she was the Art Editor, The Tiresian.

Judy was a celebrated artist in Houston, known for her paintings depicting the growth of Houston’s downtown and also the Ship Channel. Her Bicentennial Collection depicting the history of the Port of Houston was accepted by the Smithsonian Institute and the Royal Library at Windsor.

Judy married Haskell Rosenthal in 1974 and spent 49 years together, happily married and deeply in love. In their later years, Judy and Haskell co-wrote books together. And Haskell would sing songs to Judy, in particular: “You are my sunshine” and “I love you for a hundred thousand reasons.”

Books: She also illustrated and co-authored multiple children’s books, including Flutter the Butterfly with the Dull Brown Wings (2016), The Little Dreidel that Ran Away (2015), Lilly’s Trip to the Lands of Adventure (2022), and Spots and Sparky (2023).

Judy was involved in multiple organizations, including Congregation Beth Israel where she served on the Sisterhood, the Daughters of the American Revolution where she served as Chaplain, and the Magna Carta Dames where she served as President of the Houston Chapter.

She loved hosting parties and creating artwork. She was famous for her trays of desserts and also for the way she cooked healthy entrees.

Judy had a son Brian in 1978 who studied Computer Science at Harvard and eventually became an Engineering Director at Facebook during its growth. Brian married Jeannie Lang, and they live together in Scarsdale, New York with their three children Lilly, Charlie, and Eve.

Judy moved to New York in 2020 to be closer to her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.