WHO WE ARE
A FEATURE HIGHLIGHTING THE ‘OUTSIDE’ LIVES OF THE MANY VARIED AND INTERESTING MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION.

—by Lois Chazen

One of Judy Chang’s (張珠迪 Zhāng Zhū-Dí) most vibrant childhood memories is accompanying her brother and two sisters on a weekly Saturday visit to the local public library. Her father, who is an economist, both in Taiwan where Judy was born and in Toronto where the family immigrated when she was eleven, is an enthusiastic reader and he imparted the joy of reading to his children. In her teen years, she usually complied with her expatriate parents’ wishes, but she did not apply to Medical School as they had hoped. She did earn a Bachelor’s degree majoring in Chemistry at the University of Toronto. Along with the Biology and Physics courses in her curriculum, she had completed all the Science prerequisites to apply. In her third year of college, she interrupted her focus on the Sciences and selected courses in Architecture, a field that remains of great interest to her. She has a facility with languages and is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese. Judy’s mother learned English at a Catholic School in
	Judy Chang • 張珠迪
in the late 1940s and worked at an American engineering firm in Taiwan. Judy therefore heard English spoken at home during her early childhood. One imagines that Judy was born smiling. She truly lights up the dreariest of rooms with her smile and in conversation, speaks with a smile in her voice. Her charm coupled with her intelligence and competitive spirit accounts for her remarkable success in the highly rigorous Financial Services arena in which she has toiled since the beginning of her business career. Once Judy reached the decision not to go to medical school, she earned an MBA from Queen’s University in Canada. The same year, following a summer internship at the Canadian Treasury Department based in Toronto, she landed her first salaried job at the Bank of Nova Scotia, one of Canada’s largest banks. In short order, she was transferred to the Bank’s New York City headquarters. Chase Bank offered her a job, which she accepted, involving the development of new ideas for the highly volatile Derivatives market. In 1990, Judy moved to Goldman Sachs and then went to England in 1993 to take a position at Bering’s in the Commodity Derivatives Department. For the past few years, she has been working at Marsh McLennan in the office of the Managing Director of International Specialty Operations, covering all of Asia, South America and Hawaii. Throughout these years, Judy always found substantial time to volunteer on behalf of various organizations. During her twenty years as a member of All Souls, Judy has given many hours to Church programs. She is the official accompanist for the All Souls Children’s Choir. Well trained for this, Judy began piano lessons at age five in Taiwan, attaining a high level of achievement in the Royal Conservatory of Music methodology used by her private teachers. Lessons continued long after the family moved to Toronto. She also studied violin and played in her school orchestra. Early in her association with All Souls, she gave many volunteer hours to the church’s Religious Education program and served as a Girl Scout leader. Her love of music destined her to be one of the patrons of Musica Viva, traveling with conductor and founder Wally Klauss on two recent highly acclaimed European tours. Judy is also the founder of the annual Chinese New Year celebration at All Souls. The premiere event was at the Millennium. The Year 2000 was the Year of the Dragon (龍年). Judy arranges for ceremonial dancers, musicians and traditional cuisine and, decorates Reidy Friendship Hall, incorporating all the accoutrements of a typical Chinese New Year celebration. Two years ago Judy was elected to the All Souls Board of Trustees and this past February, became the new president, succeeding Mary-Ella Holst. “I plan to maintain balance in these challenging times, to build on the achievements of preceding Boards, and plan to be cognizant of and helpful to the many committees which serve the Church,” Judy said. She added that growth in membership and attendance at All Souls and at UU churches nationwide is a priority. Recently, Judy returned from GA in St. Louis invigorated by the newly formed seminar for UU Presidents. “The opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues across the country was an enriching, valuable experience,” she said. Judy joined All Souls in 1986 with her former husband, a lawyer, who is still a member. “The dissolution of my 14-year marriage was a devastating blow, which threw me into depression,” Judy revealed. “I didn’t work for a year. In 1998, I began a two-year study program offered by the Movement of Spiritual Awareness Church. I have been ordained and officiate on some weekends at highly personalized weddings. The most recent took place at the Union League Club on Park Avenue.” Judy lives with her significant other Stephen, also an attorney. Judy Chang with her Family. Family life is of great importance to Judy. She has a close relationship with Stephen’s son who recently graduated from Medical School and also with Stephen’s mother. She visits her parents in Toronto regularly and maintains close ties with her siblings. One sister lives in Chatham, New Jersey and is a senior executive with the Campbell Soup Company. Judy’s other sister is an artist and lives in Holland with her longtime companion. Her brother is proprietor of an advertising and design firm in Toronto. Judy keeps her body active as well as her mind. She tries to swim or work out on a daily basis and gives Tai Chi Chuan (太極拳) lessons in Central Park. She also counsels people in Fēng Shuǐ (風水), and has a Monday night class at All Souls in Zen Meditation. She finds learning Asian calligraphy endlessly fascinating and delights in traveling the globe. Through the good times and the difficult periods in her personal or professional life, one imagines that Judy smiles radiantly doing her best and giving to and thinking about others, secure in the knowledge that matters will improve.