FRANKLIN/MEDWAY: Judith Anne Grossman

Judith Anne (Cummings Knowles) Grossman, 85, formerly of Tenants Harbor (Maine), died Tuesday, December 10, 2024, surrounded by her loving family, following a long battle with cancer.

Born December 18, 1938 in Brockton, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of Rowland N. and Frances Geb Cummings. Judith graduated with honors from Falmouth High School in Falmouth, Massachusetts in 1956. She then went to the Modern School of Fashion Design in Boston, Massachusetts where she graduated with honors in 1959.

She married Richard James Knowles, Jr. in Woburn, Massachusetts in 1958. Richard and Judith moved to Medway, Massachusetts in October of 1963 with their 4 children.

Judith opened a sewing school, U-Can Sew, in Medway where she taught adults and children how to sew. In 1974, she became manager of the Franklin Mill Store in Franklin, Massachusetts where she developed a fashion sewing group for teenage girls. They put on fashion shows at the local high school’s economic classes with clothing they had designed and sewn themselves. During her years with the Franklin Mill Store, Judith held a sewing program for the local radio station. In 1977, Judith took a job as Assistant Buyer, then Buyer of yarns and crafts for Bradlees Discount Department Stores located in Braintree, Massachusetts.

In 1981, she married Norman M. Grossman, owner of Norwood Wholesale Tobacco and Candy. They joined a family of Norman’s 3 boys and Judith’s 3 girls and 1 boy; 7 children in all. In 1986, Judith and Norman moved to Tenants Harbor, Maine where they opened Church Hill Bed & Breakfast and The Golden Hand Baskets and Gifts Shop, a summer business, on Route 131 in Tenants Harbor. In 1994, Judith moved Golden Hand Decorating to Route 90 in Rockport, Maine where she ran a very successful decorating, blind and shade business for over 25 years. She decorated many businesses and resident’s homes in Midcoast Maine.

Judith was very active in community affairs. She was a member of the Rockland/Thomaston Chamber of Commerce where she and Pat Rittersdorf created and managed the first Chamber Business Showcase. Judith was an active member of the Rockland Rotary Club, being the second female to become a member. She was awarded Rotarian of the Year and became a Paul Harris Fellow in the early 90’s. While operating the Golden Hand, Judy was a charter member of the Route 90 Association and was President of the Association for 2 years. She and Norman were members of Adas Yoshuron Synagogue in Rockland, Maine. Judith was a charter member of the group that restored the Marshall Point Lighthouse in 1990.

Judith retired from decorating in 2010, selling her business to her daughter, Karen Ruggiero, and moved to South Thomaston. She became an active board member of 63 Washington Street Camden, a retirement home. In 2018 she moved to Merry Gardens Estates, Camden and in 2020 to her daughter’s home in Rockland. Here she continued to pursue her love of watercolor and acrylic painting. She painted dog and cat portraits for her friends and nature landscapes of the local light houses and coastal scenes. She sold her paintings at Blue Yonder Gifts at the Knox County airport, at Seagull Gifts in Rockland and at various art shows in the Midcoast.

Predeceased by her first husband, Richard James Knowles, Jr., and her second husband, Norman Grossman; Judith is survived by her loving children, Catherine and Dana Hodgdon of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, Patrick Knowles and his companion Beth Landine, Karen and Richard Ruggiero, and Kerry and Joseph Catalano, all of Rockland, Maine; her grandchildren, Daniella Wilhelm of Providence, Rhode Island, Mitchell Wilhelm of Medway, Massachusetts; step-children, Martin Grossman of Boston, Massachusetts, Roger and Sue Grossman of Wrentham, Massachusetts, Douglas Grossman and his partner Cheryl Pollino Fafel of Medway, Massachusetts; step-grandchildren, Aaron and Brian Grossman; sisters, Colina Turner and her husband Jerry, Kerry Golden and her husband Leo; brother Rowland (Sonny) Cummings and his wife June Sullivan, and many nieces and nephews.

Judith loved to read. She was a member of ABC Book Club of Midcoast Maine, a frequent user of the Rockland Library, wrote in her journal, knitted, was a crossword enthusiast, and read her Facebook every day to reach her many friends. She loved her family and life with a passion.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In keeping with Judith’s wishes, she will be laid to rest privately next to her husband at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Augusta.

To share a memory or condolence with the Grossman family, please visit their book of Memories at www.bchfh.com. Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, Maine