In Our Care
Judith Ann Serin
5/16/1949—4/19/2025
The family and friends of writer and professor Judith Serin are sad to report that Judith died April 19, 2025, of pancreatic cancer. She leaves behind many who loved her, were inspired by her, and felt close to her in their lives.
Judith Ann Serin was born May 16, 1949, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to Bernice and Bernard Serin—Bernice a biologist at Rutgers University, and Bernard a physics professor there.
She grew up in Piscataway Township, near the Rutgers campus, and attended Rutgers Preparatory School. Judith had many sweet memories of summers spent with family at their retreat in Center Sandwich, New Hampshire, on the boundary between that state’s Lakes Region and the White Mountains.
Judith took her bachelor’s degree from Bennington College in Vermont, moved to the Bay Area, and received her master’s degree in creative writing from San Francisco State University. One of the jobs she took while attending S.F. State was modeling, both for university art classes and for Bay Area Figurative painters, including Joan Brown and Elmer Bischoff.
In 1986 Judith married Herbert Yeung Yee, a MUNI inspector and artist. Herbert died of cancer in 2020.
Judith Serin was a widely respected poet and prose writer. For over fifty years she was a member of “The Group”—writers meeting monthly whose members included Ellery Akers, Gerald Fleming, and the late Bill Edmondson and Peter Kunz. Her collection of poetry Hiding in the World was published by Diane de Prima’s Eidolon Editions. Her Days Without (Sky): a Poem Tarot, seventy-eight prose poems in the form of a tarot deck with illustrations and book art design by Nikki Thompson, was published by Deconstructed Artichoke Press. Her short story collection Gravity was published in 2022 by The Black Springs Press Group in England, and a new collection, Family Stories, is just out (also from Black Springs) and can now be ordered. Her work is irreverent, funny, deeply observant and intelligent, and fiercely feminist. Over the decades her poems and stories were published widely in magazines and anthologies.
Judith taught literature and writing at the California College for the Arts beginning in 1980, retiring only recently. As a professor she was known for her wide knowledge, her insights into literature, and, most importantly, her kindness and support of students. Years later she was still in touch with many students who revered her and who said she changed their lives.
Judith’s younger sister Joan Alice Serin died in 2018, a great sadness, and in family she leaves behind her beloved brother-in-law Nick Christ, her niece Sara Rose Serin-Christ, her nephew Joel Bernard Serin-Christ and his wife Bianca Espinosa, her grandnephews Santiago Ibarra Dias and Joaquin Serin-Christ, and her grandniece Esme Serin-Christ.
The family would like to thank in particular those who helped her and supported her in life and in her final months: Charmion Forrester, Sue Kaplan, Danita Kulp, Amy Meyer, Katia Noyes, Anna Thompson, Emma Thompson, Nikki Thompson, Frances Doughty, Stacy Osterhaus, Heidi Kasa, Jim Hughes, Stacy McClain, Gemma O’Keefe, Jackie Dennison, Chris Rockwell, Calvin Tsao, Betsy Davids, John Lasky, Jasmin, Christian Gott, Lisa Schultheis Gott, Kay and Gay Yee, her dearest lifelong friend the poet Cathy Colman, Hospice caregivers Amalia and Susan, and so many more—apologies if we missed you, but you were in Judith’s heart; you know that.
Judith Serin will be remembered of course for her deep intelligence and her writing, but also for much more. She was a good friend. She listened. She was reliable. She remembered. She loved her husband Herbert and missed him terribly after he died. She recognized writing talent in her students, no matter how nascent that talent might have been. She had a great sense of humor and could tell a really good joke. She was a terrific grammarian, and would have loved to have proofread this obit. (A few things intentionally planted in here, Judith!) She loved her garden in its florid wildness, loved her cats JoJo, Noah, and Star with an unmatched zeal. Though she neither drank nor used drugs, she loved good chocolate. She loved dance. She loved the Giants, and would often attend games with her dear pal the writer Zack Rogow. She was keen on jazz—women jazz singers in particular—especially Sarah Vaughan. A many-decade San Franciscan, she loved exploring the City’s hills on foot with friends.
She loved poetry.
Judith Serin was buried April 29 in the Gan Yarok Reform section of Fernwood Cemetery in Mill Valley, California, Plot 184. Those who would want to donate in her memory might consider the nonprofit Poetry Flash, 1450 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710, and those who might want to drop a note to the family can do so at [email protected].
Goodbye, Judith, the poet you were, the person you were. If you’re still hovering somewhere near, please know that your family and friends here miss you and will continue to miss you.
Axel Redemann
A memorial service will be held from 2:30 – 5pm on Thursday, May 1, 2025
To Celebrate the Life of Axel Redemann
December 24, 1962 to April 23, 2025
Axel Christian Redemann passed away on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2025, in San Francisco. He is survived by his devoted wife, Yunhee Yoo, and his loving son, Jack; his mother-in-law, Hea K. Yoo; his brother Frank, and Frank’s partner, Andrea; his nieces, Antonia and Sidd; nephews, Robert and Phillip, as well as countless friends he made through his many adventures. He is also survived by two of his loyal best friends, Ludger Roedder and Kip Bennett.
Axel lived every day to the fullest, with no regrets. Nothing was done halfway–his favorite motto was: “How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything.”
Axel was a devoted and protective husband, a loving and dedicated father, and a loyal and supportive friend and brother. He was a powerful presence in everyone’s lives. Whether he was plotting 500-mile gravel bike adventures, training for an Ironman, planning Jack’s education, or building a bike, Axel was a perfectionist and poured his heart and soul into everything he did.
Axel was born on Christmas Eve, 1962, in Nordrhein Westfalen, Germany. Even as a young boy, he knew that his town–and even Germany–was too small for his ambitions, and he set his sights on moving to America. That was his goal as a young man. His path led him to Chicago in the 1990s, where he met the love of his life, Yunhee, while working as a management consultant. He later found his own firm, advising German clients doing business in the U.S.
Axel married Yunhee in Big Sur on September 8th, 2001, and soon after, they moved to California. There, he began exploring and conquering the most spectacular roads and trails–on foot and on his bikes–-while forming countless friendships through swimming and other athletic pursuits. California, especially Marin County, was where his heart truly belonged.
Axel’s life will be celebrated on May 1st, 2025.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to: KCCure.
For any questions, please contact Kyung Hyun Kim at (949) 701-0294 or [email protected]
