Judith Anne Eppler

Judy was always involved in her children’s Catholic school education, beginning at St. Therese Academy, where she served as President of the Mothers’ Guild and served on the Parish Council. She went on to serve in leadership roles at both the Academy of Our Lady of Peace and Cathedral High School and was actively involved in bobby sox, little league and scouting.

After 26 years of marriage, Judy started a new chapter in life. She became the sole owner and operator of a Chevron gas station and food mart.  She achieved great success in this career and her station grossed over $4 million in sales annually. She received a Chevron Platinum Award for being 13^th in the country in sales volume and customer service.  She had an incredible ability to rally people and as a result was the co-founder, president and vice president of the Chevron Food Mart Dealers Association- a co-op of independent dealers throughout seven Westerns states for eleven years. She was also an area representative on the National Dealers Affairs Council for Chevron working closely with the company’s top leadership.

After selling her Chevron gas station in 2002, Judy went on to follow one of her greatest passions, catholic education. She accepted a role in development at the University of San Diego in 2004. She began raising funds for the university as a major gift officer. She quickly became well known for her ardent support of USD athletics. In particular, the USD baseball program was near and dear to her heart and she relentlessly supported its fundraising program, For the Love of the Game. She also helped manage BusinessLink USD, the university’s corporate affiliate program. Judy was particularly adept at helping raise corporate sponsorships and selling tables for the university’s signature fundraising event, the Founders Gala. She retired in 2018 and proclaimed herself a Torero For Life, continuing to attend women’s volleyball, basketball and baseball games regularly – sitting in her named seat at Fowler Stadium.

Judy was always most proud of her four children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She supported all of their activities, attending many, many games and competitions, and loved to travel often, across the country and the globe, with her family and close friends. She was the life of the party everywhere she went, and always had the crowd in stitches with her clever sense of humor and gift for telling stories.  She overcame great adversity in life and through her relentless perseverance, became a profound inspiration to many. Judy’s life was abundantly full with an enormous group of friends and family. As she often loved to say, “It’s a great life if you don’t weaken.”  She will be deeply missed and her legacy will live on in all the many lives she has touched.

Judy is survived by her wonderful children, Laurie, Debbie, Suzi and Billy; sons-in-law Tony and Mike; daughter-in-law Catherine; beloved grandchildren, Jeff, Kayla, Kelly, Joey, Justin, Jenna, Xander, Dylan, and Hans; and great grandchildren, Elijah, Ayden and Theodore.

A Vigil and Rosary will be held on Friday, February 2nd at the Immaculata Church at the University of Sam Diego. Vigil will begin at 3pm followed by the Rosary at 5pm.

A Celebration of Life Mass will be held on Saturday, February 24th at 10am  at the Immaculata Church on the campus of the University of San Diego.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to University of San Diego Athletics, Sisters of the Holy Cross, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, and the Academy of Our Lady of Peace.