Judith Promnitz Marine

Judith Ann Promnitz Marine (known as Judy) passed away on October 14, 2025, in Austell, Georgia, from recently diagnosed ovarian cancer. Judy was born January 21, 1933, to Julia and Carl Promnitz in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she was delivered by her Uncle Joe Nielander. She first lived in Cleveland, Ohio, and New Orleans, Louisiana, before settling in Atlanta, Georgia, at age 8. Her father worked for New York Central Railroad; her mother became a teacher after raising Judy and her sister, Carol, who was five years younger and pre-deceased Judy in 2012. Judy went to Grady High School (Class of 1950) and Agnes Scott College (Class of 1954). She excelled as a student and served in leadership positions in both places, later winning the (2004) Distinguished Career alumni award at Agnes Scott. Judy met her husband of 24 years, William (Bill) Marine, when he was attending Emory University, and they married in 1955.

Before becoming a mother, Judy taught at Morningside and Highland Elementary Schools in Atlanta. Judy took a break from her teaching career to have four children. Linda and Jan were both born in New York City. Steve was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and Ray was born in Atlanta. Judy was a busy and devoted mother but somehow found time and energy to attend graduate school as the kids got older. Over the years she earned an M.Ed. in the Teaching of Reading from Emory University; certification in Educationally Handicapped/Learning Disabilities from the University of Denver; and certification in Leadership/Administration from Georgia State University.

In 1970, Judy was hired by Dr. William Pressly as a reading specialist at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, overlapping there for a time with her mother ("Big Judy"), who taught as a pre-first teacher. "Little Judy" later served as the principal of Westminster's Elementary School for 18 years before retiring in 2000. A generation of elementary school students recall her leading the annual Halloween Parade, always in full costume. She was much beloved by students, parents, and teachers alike.

In between stints at Westminster, Judy lived for four years in Denver, Colorado, where she taught in the Jefferson County school system. Even after retiring, she continued to tutor students for many years. Part of her philosophy was "I can teach you something, even if you don't want to learn."

After a divorce in 1979, Judy returned to Atlanta. In 1997, son Ray died tragically and suddenly at age 32 of a berry aneurysm. A subsequent screening led to Judy having "routine brain surgery" to remove two berry aneurysms of her own; Ray's untimely death thus likely ended up adding years to Judy's life.

Judy was a lifelong optimist, always seeing the positive in every person and any situation. She navigated successfully through numerous life challenges with grace, humor, courage, and faith.

Before moving to Presbyterian Village in 2019, Judy was active at several churches and with multiple organizations, most notably The Overton Institute, Agnes Scott Alumnae Association, Children's Literature for Children, and FEW (Former Employees of Westminster). Judy traveled with friends around the world and visited her children and their families wherever they lived. She had a special connection to the country of Kenya and Mount Kenya Academy, which she visited numerous times. One of Judy's retirement gifts from Westminster was a portrait commissioned for Mount Kenya Academy to hang there as a tribute to her lasting impact on the school. Although she slowed down physically after hip replacement and other medical issues in her final years, she stayed current through reading the newspaper and watching TV news. Judy was forever concerned about other people, and her children always thought the book The Giving Tree (by Shel Silverstein) embodied her life and selflessness.

Judy took tremendous joy in her family and will be greatly missed by all. Judy is survived by her three living children, Linda Spock (Tom) of South Bristol, Maine; Jan Robinson (Dave) of Carrollton, Georgia; and Steve Marine (Jody) of Alpharetta, Georgia. She is also survived by one granddaughter, Jenny Robinson Abel, and six grandsons: Daniel and Matthew Robinson; Tom, Rick, and Scott Marine; and Randy Spock; as well as nine great-grandchildren: Alex, Isabelle, Heidi, Wesley, Ramona, Max, Miriam, Susanna, and Felicity. Judy's oldest grandson, Tom, followed in her footsteps by earning a graduate degree from Agnes Scott and is now teaching at Westminster's Lower School.

Judy's family gratefully acknowledges the support of Judy's many friends from her years of living at the Austell location of Presbyterian Village and the loving care provided by staff of Presbyterian Village's Hearthstone Memory Care and Health Services Center and by Georgia Hospice Care. A celebration of Judy's life and of the deep impact she had on others will be held at the Village Center on the Austell campus of Presbyterian Village on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at 10 AM. In a private ceremony, Judy's ashes will be buried alongside those of her late son Ray on the grounds of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Atlanta, where they were both members.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Judy's memory can be made to Agnes Scott College, All Saints' Episcopal Church, or The Westminster Schools in Atlanta. In addition, the family is compiling a learning memoir to honor the legacy she leaves as a lifelong educator, elementary school principal, teacher, reading specialist, tutor, mentor, friend, and colleague. Her own six-word life motto was "Learning is the joy of life." They invite you to share what you learned from Judy, either directly or by example, at this online form: https://tinyurl.com/judymarine.