The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) mourns the loss of Judith “Judy” Dodd, a retired assistant professor in the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition who passed away at the age of 85 on Saturday, May 31.
Dodd, a Pitt faculty member for over 35 years, was described as larger than life, making a positive impact on everyone she interacted with.
“Judy was a passionate and tireless advocate for dietitians and the field of nutrition. Her compassion, energy and spirited nature inspired everyone around her. She consistently challenged the status quo, always standing up for what she believed in and working to elevate the profession she loved. She had the best laugh, it was joyful, infectious and unmistakably hers.”
– Trisha A. Cousins, assistant professor and program director, Dietitian Nutritionist program
Dodd retired four years ago but remained dedicated to her profession.
“Judy and I were still in touch even after she retired from Pitt. She remained active delivering community nutrition education and advocating for the profession with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. We would bounce ideas off each other, and I continued to ask her for advice as recently as a few months ago.”
– Caroline Passerrello, Nutrition instructor and former student of Judy Dodd
Dodd joined Pitt in 1982 as a graduate student in education after receiving her bachelor’s degree in foods and nutrition from Carnegie Mellon University (formerly Carnegie Tech). She later earned a master’s degree at Pitt, pursuing a dedicated career in nutrition that spanned decades of impact in the field of dietetics and the programs at SHRS.
Her teaching style was widely described as engaging, passionate and community-focused. She combined deep expertise in nutrition with an energetic, hands-on approach that connected classroom learning to real-world applications—especially in community nutrition and public health. She was invested in the student experience, creating an enthusiastic and approachable environment for students to learn.
“She never sought the spotlight, nor demanded any special treatment, despite being one of the most influential people in the history of her profession. Judy did so much for so many, most of the time when no one was looking. Although she was nationally acclaimed, she taught more classes and served on more committees than most, and she did so on a part-time salary.
– Kevin Conley, Sports Medicine and Nutrition Department chair and associate professor
Nonetheless, the beauty behind Judy was that she was always quick to donate to the Nutrition and Dietetics scholarship fund so that maybe a student could attend a conference and realize that spark for the profession that Judy was so influential in creating. She was one-of-a-kind!”
Dodd was a pioneer in the fields of health and dietetics, while also breaking boundaries as a full-time worker and mother. She helped launch the Allegheny County Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in 1974, the first of its kind in the U.S., which offers a variety of health and nutrition services for medically or nutritionally at-risk mothers and children.
In 1994, Dodd became Giant Eagle’s first Food and Nutrition Advisor, creating educational nutrition programs for the public, such as recipe testing and allergy education, and was a frequent contributor to local Pittsburgh news platforms, who reached out to her for her expertise.
Judy Dodd (left) with fellow Pitt Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition faculty during graduation.
In 2019, Dodd was recognized with the Jane Andrews Lifetime Achievement Award in Retail Dietetics by the Retail Dietitians Business Alliance.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 4 at Schellhaas and Sons Funeral Home in Franklin Park, PA, and a memorial service will be held on Thursday, June 5 at Grace Community Church in Cranberry. For more information please see her obituary.
