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Judy Baar Topinka was an incredible political leader; a very committed Czech/Slovak American; and also a committed Slavic leader who supported many different communities of Central and Eastern European heritages. Judy’s life was about bringing people together from all different backgrounds to make her home State of Illinois a strong and diverse place. Judy’s passing twelve years ago was abrupt and unexpected. Many miss her sense of humor and her sense of history. Many simply miss her simple yet honest style of leadership.

The link https://youtu.be/KYyTJmjyCQY contains a 2002 interview by Lucyana Migala with Judy on WCEV, a radio station that used to broadcast from Cicero, Illinois. Judy addresses the effort to build a statue of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk in Washington, D.C. Masaryk was the first president of Czechoslovakia after the end of World War I.  More information about the statue and Masaryk are at https://monumentalhistory.wordpress.com/2016/09/28/tomas-garrigue-masaryk/. Judy also speaks about the pride she had in her heritage and how being Slavic could often be an impediment for success in the United States. For Judy, ethnicity was an important aspect of everyone’s lives especially as citizens of the United States of America. One’s ethnic background was not an impediment, but a source of strength and solidarity with others.

Thank you Judy for loving your Slavic background! Thank you also for your support of memorializing President Masaryk in the United States! Our hope is that someday Judy’s home State of Illinois will recognize her in a similar manner. Like Masaryk, Judy certainly earned the honor.

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!

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.