Dr. Judith Gray Holcomb
Nov. 1, 1946-March 2, 2025
Union City, California

Judith Gray Holcomb, O.D., of Union City, California and Newport, Rhode Island, passed away on March 2nd following a long battle with breast cancer. She was the loving wife of the late Richard John Pope and the daughter of the late Chester H. and Alma L. (Rankin) Gray. Born in Taunton, MA, Judy was raised in Newport, RI, was a 1964 graduate of Rogers High School and a 1968 graduate of Salve Regina University where she received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology. She received her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of California Berkeley School of Optometry in 1975. Judy practiced Optometry for 39 years at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Redwood City, CA, serving as Chief of Optometry for 32 years, her happiest accomplishment. She was a member of the California Optometric Association, the American Optometric Association and actively supported the expansion of optometric scope of practice throughout her career. Judy had two homes: Newport, the home of her heart where she sunbathed in her youth on a special Cliff Walk rock now almost washed away and the Redwood City Optometry Clinic, the home of her optometry family and professional achievements. Dr. Holcomb collected whimsical frogs, lots and lots of them! Her patients called her the Frog Lady and often contributed to her collection. She also had a long lasting affection for her first car, a ‘69 GTO, and she once showed her ’64 Corvette Stingray. When Judy discovered that she was adopted, she sought and found her biological family. Judy is survived by her stepdaughter Ellisa Pope of Sacramento, CA, many cousins in the Gray family including Dorothy (John) Barber of Bridgewater, MA, Nancy (Hans) Etzrodt of Honolulu, HI and Catherine Kanakis of Assonet, MA, also, Raymond (Janice) Sylvia of Dighton, MA, and Rosemary Ferreira, Helen (Tony) Raposo, and Maria Raposo of Somerset, MA. Until 2000, Judy’s passion was optometry then she met Richard Pope who lit up a room with his laughter and antics. He became her greatest joy, a prince to her practical princess. They married on June 26, 2004 in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Newport, RI, her lifelong parish, followed by a fairytale reception at Belcourt Castle, Newport. Judy’s love of architecture inspired their enthusiasm for traveling and attending historical costume events. Their favorites included Newport Vintage Dance Week and “Somewhere in Time” at the Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI. They also regularly attended the Art Deco Society of Northern California, Heritage Holidays in Yosemite National Park and the Southern California Art Deco Society Weekend on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California, plus many Greater Bay Area Costume Guild events in the San Francisco area. In retirement Judy and Richard lived six months in Union City and six months in Newport traveling when opportunities arose, often to sites of the National Trust for Historic Preservation or the Victorian Society of America. Summers were all Newport: Preservation Society of Newport County events, Newport Classical Music, the Black Ships Festival, watching polo matches and numerous other events that continued to make her hometown one of magic and fantasy. Richard passed away on October 25, 2021 after a five-month struggle with a difficult to diagnose brain lymphoma and will be interred with her. Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM in Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport RI. A Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 AM in the Belmont Chapel at Island Cemetery, 32 Warner St., Newport RI. The service will be livestreamed at https://link.memorial/jholcomb. Burial for Mr. Pope and Dr. Holcomb will follow immediately in Island Cemetery. Please remember them with flowers. A reception will follow at The Wyndham Newport Hotel, 240 Aquidneck Ave, Middletown, RI 02842. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, in the Congregational Church of San Mateo, San Mateo, California. Memorial Service will be held at 2:00pm followed by Celebratory Meal & Activities until 8:00pm. Specific details will be available in mid-April 2025. Memorial donations may be made in Judy’s name to The Judith G. Holcomb Optometry Fellowship Fund, University of California, Berkeley Optometry School Scholarship, https://optometry.berkeley.edu/giving/ Additional information at www.memorialfuneralhome.com