January 2026

The New Grammar Guardian of Pasadena Village

By Michelle Chiu
Posted: 05/30/2025

When Judith Ray recently accepted the volunteer position of copy editor for the Voice of the Village, some people wondered, "Why would anyone want that job?" But for Judith, it's not just a job — it's a calling that stretches back to her childhood.  Picture a young Judith in first grade, reading so quickly that Sister Kenneth had to intervene. "She was reading too fast for the other children," the nun declared. Little did they know they were dealing with a future grammar enthusiast!

Judith's journey to becoming the "Grammar Police" (yes, she has a mug to prove it!) began in the Catholic schools of 1950s Chicago. While other students might have dreaded diagramming sentences, Judith found joy in parsing language like a linguistic detective. Her colleagues even gifted her a tote bag that proudly proclaims, "I am silently correcting your grammar."

With degrees from Indiana University and the University of Chicago, Judith brings more than just a keen eye for misplaced punctuation. She sees editing as an art form — a way to help writers communicate more effectively.  In her own words: “Because I spent a lot of time with my nose in a book, I think good grammar, punctuation, etc. embedded itself in my brain (As long as I wasn’t reading James Joyce or ee cummings, that is.) Extra commas, run-on sentences and the dreaded semicolon jump off the page and do a little dance in front of my eyes saying, ‘you can’t catch me.’  Oh, yes I can.”

Having lived in Chicago, Indiana, and Michigan before joining Pasadena Village, Judith has consistently volunteered her editing skills. Her philosophy is simple: good writing matters, and she's here to help.  So, the next time you read the Voice of the Village, know that behind those perfectly crafted sentences is Judith Ray, silently ensuring every word is just right.

The Pasadena Village Editorial Team welcomes Judith with open arms and is grateful that she agreed to join us!