It is with deep sadness that we note the passing this past week of a very special member of the Village Preservation family — Judith Stonehill.

Judith, who only last year retired from the Village Preservation Board of Trustees, was the board’s longest-serving member, having joined in 1989, and a President of the organization from 1993 to 1999. But perhaps more importantly, Judith was an incredibly generous supporter of Village Preservation’s mission, a champion for the community that she loved, and a visionary leader who helped establish so many of this organization’s most beloved and consequential ongoing traditions and programs.

Under Judith’s leadership, Village Preservation began its Annual House Tour Benefit, our Annual Village Awards, our first-of-its-kind Children’s Education program, our oral history project, and so much more.

An author of multiple books on New York City and an owner of New York Bound Bookshop, Judith spearheaded the creation of and edited Village Preservation’s book, Greenwich Village Stories. Her generous donation of her bookstore’s photo collection to Village Preservation helped seed and lead to the creation of our Historic Image Archive, which has grown to more than 5,000 images and nearly 70 collections. This was classic Judith; she carefully and generously planted seeds, providing nourishment, support, and guidance, and allowed them to flourish and bloom.

As a small-business owner, Judith was a fierce and passionate advocate for local independent businesses, especially bookstores. And as the owner and steward for decades of one of Greenwich Village’s oldest and most carefully maintained landmarked houses, she was a tenacious and determined proponent of neighborhood and historic preservation.

In her work over the years as President of the organization, and chair and member of so many of our committees, Judith touched many, many people — as a mentor, as a leader, and as a friend. She will be deeply missed by her Village Preservation family. But the legacy she created and built will continue to live on, and thanks to Judith, to flourish and bloom.