Remembering Judy Ricci
"I believe that every person, black, white, male, female, incarcerated or free, has a right to decent and responsible health care. It’s frightening to be dependent on the mercy of a system that cares nothing for us, whether we live or die, and we are dying in here. I collect information to share with other women here so that hopefully with education will come empowerment."
-Judy Ricci, 1960-2004
Known by many on the prison yard as Dr. Juju, her work as an HIV peer health educator inspired a movement of prisoner activists - inside and out. She educated her peers about HIV and HEP C and empowered others to stand up and demand the right to be healthy and well. As a hospice volunteer, she held the hands of dying women and carved out spaces of profound humanity that enabled women to pass with dignity. She laughed fully, spoke poetry straight from the heart and shared her love with all who entered her life. She liked dark chocolate, bright purple nail polish, and the sloppy droolly kisses of her two giant Rottweilers. While we mourn her death, we must remember that her legacy will continue on in our collective struggle for justice.
Tributes
"I start to write the simple words that just don’t seem enough for JuJu ~ Judy. JuJu was and is an angel to me. Always right there with that smile that brought the right words of comfort and hope – just when I needed her. One moment I’m dying in a prison bed – the next I meet this intense, determined person who want to hook me up with attorneys and try to get me home. She was the one who offered me friendship, ways of help and hope – and a will to live."
-Dee Garcia
"Every day I miss my friend with all my heart … I met JuJu working as a peer counselor... A few months later she moved into my room and into my heart … JuJu was our Dr. She would tell us what the medical problem was, what kind of medication we should have, how to do a ‘602’ if we didn’t get what we needed… JuJu, for almost 4 years, went to ‘805’ almost every day. We danced, we cried, we changed diapers, pushed wheelchairs, laughed and we held hands with the women who had very little hope of leaving ‘805’ alive: which many didn’t. We also gave the ‘805’ medical staff the blues… I loved JuJu… [She] inspired you to live up to your potential. She was one of the most intelligent women I’ve ever had in my life… I wanted bells to ring to let the world know we have lost a wonderful, spirited human being."
-Bea Smith-Dyer
"JuJu, my sister, my friend; I love you even as you rest… when I grow up I desire a heart of gold like you … thank you for our time – I miss you."
-Chopper
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