Obituary of Judith Andrea Caporale

November 17, 2022

Judy was a bright light, a glorious spirit, and the most intrepid, inspiring person imaginable.  -Judith Kelman

Judith Andrea Caporale. 

Judith lived a kind, inspiring, generous, engaged and extraordinarily broad creative life, as a performer and beloved teacher of extraordinary scope, and as a dear friend. 

A devoted & kind sister to Lynn, Barbara & Jill Caporale (Jeff Lape), Aunt of Brooks (Brynn; Great-Aunt of Foster Raphael), Michael, & Parker Lape & Rocky Caporale, treasured daughter of Stella and Ralph Caporale Jr. Granddaughter of Morris and Rose Kistenberg Babushkin and Rubie and Raphael Caporale.

Judith was an accomplished student of Javanese, Balinese dance; she studied Bharatanatyam Dance with Balasaraswati at the American Dance Festival Connecticut College, Center for World Music Berkeley California, American Society for Eastern Arts 

As a member of Bali Java Theatre, Judith performed Javanese, Balinese and Sundanese dance at schools and festivals around New York City

As a member of the East West Fusion Theatre, she performed Bharata-Natyam, Sundanese and Balinese dance.

Judith taught about and demonstrated Eastern Classical Dance for audiences at a Fordham University Education Conference; Brooklyn College of CUNY; Rockefeller University; Pen and Brush Craft Society; Children’s Museum Washington, DC; New York City Schools; American Museum of Natural History.  

“If there can be said to be such a thing as a born dancer, Judy is it… she grasped the real impulse of the movement it was always a pleasure to watch her. “ Cecily Dell 1973

In the New York City School System, Judith was a classroom teacher in special education for 4th and 5th graders; she also was a K-12 Substitute Teacher in NYC Public and Private Schools covering a wide range of subjects she knew well, including Science and health teacher for high school special education department –and created and adjusted curriculums in science – biology, environment, and health.  

Judith attended the Shakespeare summer workshop at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.  She was a serious student of creation of character through voice and formed a close friendship there with renowned voice teacher, Geoffrey Conner, who continued to coach her privately

In New York where Judith studied at Herbert Berghorf (HB) studios, and the Meisner Technique (teachers included William Alderson and Gloria Maddox). She where she wrote, acted in and directed plays. 

Judith was a member of SAG-AFTRA; American Theater of Actors (ATA) American Shakespeare Repertory Theatre American Mime Theater (Paul Curtis) Performed at Westbeth Theatre by Working Stages Theatre Company. She studied Improvisation with David Shepherd; Mime with Yass Hakoshima, Richard Morse and was a member of the American Mime Theater (Paul Curtis). Judith performed often at informal venues in New York City including Monologues and Madness at the Cornelia Street Café

As a Performance Teacher her work included the M&J Vocal Workshop –a member of a team that guides performers through rehearsals and culminates in cabaret performances at Don’t Tell MaMa. 

In 1994, Judith was recognized with the Jean Dalrymple Award Best New Director; 

Judith also was a talented singer, in addition to one-woman shows at Danny’s Supper Club and Chez Suzette she performed regularly at open Mics In New York, She was a long-time student of Don Lawrence and also studied at the Vermont Jazz Center with Sheila Jordan;

Judith earned a BS in Biology from SUNY Stony Brook, studied at the Bodega Bay Marine Biology Summer Program and was close to completing her MFA in Creative Writing at Stony Brook Southampton when suddenly, when teaching one day, she could not read (diagnosis: Glioblastoma Grade IV). 

Without complaint, Judith continued to inspire us with her brave, sweet-spirited life. When, after a decade (!) an aggressive recurrence slowly took away her voice, so full of observations and support and encouragement for those beside her, she continued to reach out to sing (& to say “thank you”).  

The loss of Judith’s radiant smile, grace, attentiveness & empathy leaves an aching empty space in so many lives.  (1/16/51-11/17/22)

Funeral Services