Judy Lee Klemesrud (June 11, 1939 – October 12, 1985) was a writer for ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' from 1966 until her death in 1985.

Biography

Judy Lee Klemesrud was born on June 11, 1939, in Thompson, Iowa, to Glee Catherine Florence Klemsrud (1909–1986) and Theo Severin Klemesrud (1902–1995). She had a sister, Candace K. Klemesrud (1947–1989) and a brother, Tom Theo Klemesrud. Her father, who survived both his daughters, owned and published the '' Thompson Courier and Rake Register'' in Winnebago County,

Iowa Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...

. She attended the

University of Iowa The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized into 12 co ...

from 1958 until she was graduated in 1961. She later attended the Columbia University School of Journalism. While attending the

, she worked as an editor at ''

The Daily Iowan ''The Daily Iowan'' is an independent, 6,500-circulation student newspaper serving Iowa City and the University of Iowa community. During the 2020–2021 academic year ''The Daily Iowan'' transitioned from printing daily to producing a print e ...

''. She then spent four years as a reporter for the ''

Chicago Daily News The ''Chicago Daily News'' was an afternoon daily newspaper in the midwestern United States, published between 1875 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois. History The ''Daily News'' was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Doughert ...

''. She then spent 19 years at ''The New York Times'' beginning in 1966, and ending at her death in 1985. She also wrote for such magazines as: ''

Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentlema ...

'', ''

Cosmopolitan Cosmopolitan may refer to: Food and drink * Cosmopolitan (cocktail), also known as a "Cosmo" History * Rootless cosmopolitan, a Soviet derogatory epithet during Joseph Stalin's anti-Semitic campaign of 1949–1953 Hotels and resorts * Cosmopoli ...

'',↵''

Ladies Home Journal ''Ladies' Home Journal'' was an American magazine last published by the Meredith Corporation. It was first published on February 16, 1883, and eventually became one of the leading women's magazines of the 20th century in the United States. In ...

'', ''

Redbook ''Redbook'' is an American women's magazine that is published by the Hearst Corporation. It is one of the " Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines. It ceased print publication as of January 2019 and now operates an article-comprise ...

'', and ''

The New York Times Magazine ''The New York Times Magazine'' is an American Sunday magazine supplement included with the Sunday edition of ''The New York Times''. It features articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors. ...

''. In 1968, she signed the " Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. Judy wrote an op-ed fear mongering piece without any facts or evidence to support her opinions on October 28, 1970, titled "Those Treats May Be Tricks," which sparked a historic nationwide panic towards Halloween candy being poisoned which lasts to contemporary times. Klemdesrud wrote "Donald Trump, Real Estate Promoter, Builds Image as He Buys Buildings," the first

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...

profile, which appeared in the ''New York Times'' in November 1976.Donald Trump, Real Estate Promoter, Builds Image as He Buys Buildings
''New York Times'', November 1, 1976. Retrieved May 20, 2016.

Death

Klemesrud died of breast cancer on October 12, 1985, at the age of 46. She is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, in her native Thompson.

Awards

She won various awards for her work at The ''New York Times''. These included two "Page One" awards from the Newspaper Guild of New York for her 1973 story, ''In a Small Town U.S.A., Women's Lib is Either a Joke or a Rarity'', and a 1983 profile on tennis celebrity Ivan Lendl. In 1969 she won a Front Page Award from the Newspaper Women's Club of New York for a story about adoptions by single women.

References

External links

Audio tape. Judy is interviewed about her career

Judy Klemesrud memorial service audio tape, New York City, 10-29-1985
{{DEFAULTSORT:Klemesrud, Judy Lee 1939 births 1985 deaths American women journalists American tax resisters Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism alumni Deaths from breast cancer Deaths from cancer in New York (state) The New York Times writers People from Winnebago County, Iowa University of Iowa alumni American people of Norwegian descent 20th-century American non-fiction writers 20th-century American women writers