Judith L. "Judi" Hetrick

Judith L. “Judi” Hetrick, 71, passed away Sept 7, 2024 after a short illness. A journalist and professor, she was aptly described by a friend who wrote that she “brought a bright light of humor and creativity to the world.” She was born Sept. 8, 1952, in Alliance, Ohio, the daughter of Nelson Vincent and Ruth Audrey Hetrick.

She graduated from Alliance High School in 1970 and earned her bachelor’s degree in 1974 from Ohio Wesleyan University with a double major in journalism and religion. She studied for one semester at Union Theological Seminary in New York City before embarking a newspaper career that included editing jobs in Jackson, Ms.; Dayton, Ohio; Owensboro, Ky.; and Springfield, Mo.

Returning to graduate school, she earned master’s and PhD degrees in folklore at Indiana University, completing her dissertation in 1999. While in graduate school she worked as an editor for the IU Office of Publications and as advisor to the Whole Press, a twice-monthly newspaper produced by high school students under the sponsorship of the Bloomington Herald-Times.

After earning her doctorate, she taught journalism at Miami University and Earlham College, where she also advised the student newspaper and radio station. While at Earlham she developed a course in “peace journalism,” an approach in which journalists purposefully cover not only the roots of conflict but the possibilities for peace.

In Oxford, she was an active volunteer for Audubon Miami Valley, where she edited the organization’s quarterly newsletter, and the TOPPS food pantry.

She found great joy in her affiliation with the Hopedale Unitarian Universalist Community. She had previously been a founding member of new UU fellowship in Owensboro and a member of established UU congregations in Springfield and Bloomington. She joined the Hopedale community as soon as she moved to Oxford, and her contributions over the years included service on the church board of directors, as vice president for congregational life, as chair of the Sunday services committee, and as a member of the social justice committee. With her usual spark of humor, she once told the congregation during a Sunday service: “I can’t imagine my life without UUs. … I have been honored to be able to lead services here fairly frequently, and I continually strive to honor all of you by NOT joining the choir.”

She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Rob Schorman, a sister Julie (Jim) Mackintosh, a niece Randi (James Albert) Mackintosh, a great niece Audrey Albert, and two sisters-in law, Anita “Dianne” Hetrick and Yolanda Tagge. She was preceded in death by her parents Nelson and Audrey and her brothers Daniel L. and Timothy A. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hopedale Unitarian Universalist Community, PO Box 625, Oxford, OH 45056.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, November 16, 2024 at the Hopedale Unitarian Universalist Community, 3870 Millville-Oxford Road (U.S 27), Oxford, Ohio.