AUGUSTA – Judith “Judy” Ann Plano, 82, of Augusta passed away in her home on Feb. 11, 2021. Judy was born on May 15, 1938 to Anthony and Bertha Plano in New Haven, Conn. The family later moved to Bradenton, Fla.

Judy attended the University of Florida in the late 50’s, before leaving to start a family with Ennis Young. She then completed her BS in Biology at the College of Charleston (1970) while raising two daughters. Judy went on to get a Masters of Education at the Citadel (1973), where she was the first woman to attend day classes with the cadets.

In 1977 Judy moved to South Portland with her second husband, H.D. Wagener, where she earned a Bachelors in Music at the University of Southern Maine (1985) while raising her two youngest daughters and teaching music. Judy had a life-long passion for music. She served as music director for many churches and choirs, played violin in the Portland Symphony Orchestra and sang with The Choral Art Society. In the mid-90’s, Judith formed a Klezmer band called Judy and the Gefilte Fish with fellow members of Temple Bet Ha’am. In later years, she continued singing with Portland-based group, Women in Harmony.

Seeking new challenges, Judy attended the U of M School of Law, graduating in 1993. While there, she worked at the Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic and was chair of the Women’s Law Association. When applying for the Bar, she and a classmate noticed that the application contained questions pertaining to mental health, potentially in violation of the ADA. They sued the Maine Bar Association to remove or change the questions. In a precedential judgement, The State Supreme Court ordered the board to reframe the questions to address behavior instead of health. Judy continued to use her law degree to fight injustice by representing underserved communities. She worked with both the Disability Rights Center and Pine Tree Legal Assistance, before retiring in 2012. She touched countless lives through her work helping tenants fight eviction and unfair housing conditions, providing legal aid to Maine’s Indigenous communities, and providing pro-bono guardian ad litem services.

Judy was an active member of Temple Beth El in Augusta.

Judy is survived by her siblings, Richard Plano and Julie (Patty Plano) Li; her children Linda Young, Kathy, Jael and Kyla Wagener, and Son Vo; her grandchildren Shayna Borrett, Glenn Lee, Max and Sam Bronsnick and Angeleigh Plano; and two great-grandchildren, Harper and Chloe Borrett. She was predeceased by her daughter Leigh Ann Lee in 2010.