Judy Baar Topinka

Judy Baar Topinka Charitable Foundation

Just Judy

Happy Judy Day! 

Happy Judy Day! Today, January 16, Judy Baar Topinka would have been 80 years old.  We lost her too soon. 

We miss her honesty, hardwork, her love of her state, and her love of animals!

judy baar topinka with elephant at zoo

Celebrate “Judy Day 2024” By Donating Pet Food or Time To Your Favorite Animal Shelter

Tuesday, January 16, 2024, would have been Judy Baar Topinka’s 80th birthday.

To honor Judy’s legacy and commitment to saving shelter dogs and cats…the Judy Baar Topinka Foundation encourages you to donate a can of pet food (or other needed wish list item) to your favorite local animal shelter or rescue group.

Please consider adopting a pet, or volunteering your time, to an animal shelter, if you are in a position to do so.

Judy believed EVERYBODY can make a difference.

Animals were very near and dear to Judy’s heart. While she was the Illinois State Comptroller, Judy Baar Topinka, spearheaded “Comptroller’s Critters”, a groundbreaking program connecting Illinois no-kill animal shelters, rescue groups, and pet-lovers, to reduce the number of cats and dogs roaming the streets, and connect them with loving fur-ever families. This unique pet-saving program received national attention in the “Litty Kitter the Cat” theatre for young audiences stage play and best-selling children’s books.

Judy Baar Topinka is remembered by many as a trailblazing female public servant who paved the way for young girls who dreamed of becoming elected officials. The uniquely open-minded leader smashed gender stereotypes and served the people of the State of Illinois in the roles of senator, representative, treasurer and comptroller.

Judy Baar Topinka was flexible, never caved in to political party demands, diligently served ALL people regardless of party affiliation, and worked together on both sides of the aisle to create common sense solutions to complicated issues.

As a public servant, she was truly one-of-a-kind, a champion of human rights and animal rights.

Judy Baar Topinka – left us entirely too soon – although she left behind a treasure trove of positive accomplishments for humankind and animalkind, countless memories, and unpublished manuscripts – her physical presence is deeply missed by her family, friends and constituents.

More great, virtual gifts to celebrate “JUDY DAY”

Judy Button Dont Call Me Honey

Judy Baar Topinka left us too early. Today, Judy would have been 79 years old. Imagine what she would have accomplished. Imagine what she would say today about our current leaders. Imagine what it would be like if the State of Illinois, her home County of Cook, and her hometown, the Village of Riverside, ever did anything to honor this incredible populist leader who was born in, lived her entire life in, and then died in Illinois while in office serving her fellow Illinois citizens. So far, these entities have done nothing.  However, one fellow Illinoisian has done something to honor Judy’s legacy and to inspire his young students.  His story is a great one to be told on “Judy Day.”

Tim Klein | Staunton High School in Staunton, Illinois

Tim Klein is a high school English teacher at Staunton High School in Staunton, Illinois. Tim started at Saint Louis University Law School before going into the classroom full time in 2015. He has been at the Center for Educational Opportunities in Troy; Edwardsville High School for summer Government; Jersey Community High School, and his current position at Staunton High School teaching English 1 and US Government.  In his past US Government courses at Staunton High School, Tim has used the book, Just Judy, A Citizen and Leader for Illinois to allow his upperclassmen to see the life and times of a great Illinoisan and how she battled through many political conflicts. His students really liked Judy’s victory speech (third link below) because they gravitate toward winners. Judy’s son talked to Tim Klein a few months ago. Tim told Judy’s son words to the effect that Tim’s students “thought Judy was like one of them.” 

Below you will see links to the videos that Tim has shown to his students to supplement their reading of Just Judy:

The Judy Baar Topinka Charitable Foundation hopes that teachers around Illinois and beyond use Tim’s example going forward.

The Illinois State Senate at the Illinois State Capitol

In addition, we are proud to present to you a digital copy of Your Guide to the Illinois Senate. This guide is a must for teachers all over Illinois and beyond for their students. Judy Baar Topinka served two terms as an Illinois State Senator. She loved the Illinois Senate. As is tradition in the Illinois Senate, when a Senator passed his or her first bill, it was signed by all of the Senators. 

A picture of Judy’s first Senate Bill (SB) can be found in Just Judy, A Citizen and Leader for Illinois along with many interesting stories about Judy’s service in the Illinois State Senate. One of those stories addresses how Judy was often referred to as “Honey” or “Baby” by many male senators and staff when she began her tenure in the Senate. In typical Judy style, she began wearing the attached button along with her incredible smile in an effort to set a standard for all senators.  She was a senator and proud of that title. Anything less than that title was dishonorable to the chamber itself. 

Remember that the foundation is always willing to donate copies of Just Judy to interested teachers. In an age of negatives, Judy Baar Topinka’s story is a positive one that can inspire young people to do great things for their communities in the future. Judy Baar Topinka was a model for all of us demonstrating that anyone with passion, drive, and hard work can triumph in the face of great odds.

your guide to the illinois senate
Judy Button Dont Call Me Honey

Some great, virtual gifts to bring a Judy Baar Topinka smile to all your faces

Eight years ago, we lost someone that was simply incredible. Here are some great, virtual gifts to bring a Judy Baar Topinka smile to all your faces and to provide inspiration to teachers all over who teach civics!

Accordion Recital

Judy Baar Topinka Home Tour and Accordion Video

This year, the Judy Baar Topinka Charitable Foundation is proud to show you the video taken in 2004 with Bob Sirott and his wife Mariann Murciano. It will make you laugh! The accordion recital is incredible!

Remodeling at the Illinois State Capitol

In addition, we are proud to present to you a copy of a guide that was produced years ago on the remodeling done at the Illinois State Capitol. This is a must for teachers all over Illinois and beyond for their students. Judy served two terms as a state representative and then two terms as a state senator. She loved both chambers in the capitol as they were full of stories, symbols, and history. 

Because of her love for the Illinois state capitol, Judy would take her son, Joseph, around the county and the world visiting state capitols and world seats of government. The visits were part of a never ending civics lesson for Judy and her son.

a guide to the renovated illinois house chamber and state capitol 2014
Download the Booklet

B.J. Ogata | Staunton High School in Staunton, Illinois

Finally, we want to highlight the efforts of B.J. Ogata who is a teacher at Staunton High School in Staunton, Illinois. B.J. has been teaching for twenty-two years at Staunton High School. He has coached several sports throughout this time at Staunton High School, including being the head track and field coach. B.J. has also taught a variety of social studies classes, mostly at the high school level but some at the junior high level as well. Currently, he is teaching World History, Geography, U.S. Government, and a dual-credit Political Science class through Lewis and Clark Community College. 

B.J. is currently using the book, Just Judy, A Citizen and Leader for Illinois, for his high school U.S Government course. This one semester course fulfills the State of Illinois Civics requirement, as well as the requirements to cover the U.S. Flag, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Illinois State Constitution. B.J. uses Just Judy along with a handout in order to inspire his students to consider Judy’s life and Illinois civics. With B.J. permission, we are proud to present you with a copy of his handout that you can download. We hope that teachers around Illinois and beyond use B.J. example going forward.

The foundation is always willing to donate copies of Just Judy to interested teachers. Judy’s story is a positive story in an age of negatives that can inspire young people to do great things for their communities in the future. Judy Baar Topinka was a model for all of us demonstrating that anyone with passion, drive, and hard work can triumph in the face of great odds. 

B.J. Ogata
B.J. Ogata
Download B.J.’s Guide

Just like Judy, you can take on the establishment and make changes which are good. Like Judy, you may not always win, but you should never give up. During this holiday season, Judy would often wish you a pleasant and loving season: “FA LA LA LA LA LA!” (This is actually a Judy quote.) 

Judy’s Day

Judy Baar Topinka Home Tour and Accordion Video
Watch the Judy’s Day Video

On January 16, 1941, a young girl was born in Chicago, Illinois.  No one realized that this lady would capture the hearts and minds of people all over the State of Illinois.  Judy Baar Topinka loved the Village of Riverside in which she spent her entire life, but she loved every county, township, city, village, and town in Illinois.

Judy had an incredible personality and the ability to embrace new ideas and new perspectives for the good of everyone in Illinois.

While there are often so many negative things being said in the media today about government and politics, you all may enjoy this video with WGN’s very own Bob Sirott and his wife Marianne Murciano taken at Judy’s home in Riverside, Illinois in 2004.  It is funny and loving and will bring you a smile on Judy’s Day!

The book, Just Judy, A Citizen and Leader for Illinois, tries to bring out that same Judy personality with an eye toward teaching young and old alike about civics, especially Illinois civics.

Army Nurse Corps Association Presentation

Joseph Baar Topinka was invited by the Army Nurse Corps Association to make a presentation about his Mother, Judy Baar Topinka, and his book about her entitled Just Judy, A Citizen and Leader for Illinois on June 12, 2021. The Army Nurse Corps Association has agreed for this recording to be posted here.