Judith Sue Novak was born on October 6, 1947, in East Saint Louis, Illinois, she was the daughter of Stephen Edward and Julia A. Konieczny Novak.

Judy studied dancing from the age of 3 1/2 and continued to dance throughout her life. She attended Catholic Schools in East Saint Louis through junior high school. Her family then moved to Marshalltown, Iowa, where she graduated from St. Mary's High School in the Class of 1965. At St. Mary's, she was a cheerleader, prom queen, and choreographer for the opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors."

Judy attended Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls for one year before transferring to the University of Oklahoma where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Modern Dance. Judy was active all aspects of Modern Dance. She then attended the University of North Carolina in Greensboro where she continued her dance education, earning a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Modern Dance.

Judith Sue Novak was married to C.E. "Eddie" Allen on June 15, 1970, at the Main Post Chapel at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Judy and Eddie just celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary this past June.

In 1972, Judy accepted a position at the University of Iowa where she began her 35-year span of teaching, choreographing, and administering dance in higher education. She started as an Instructor of Modern Dance in the Women's Physical Education Department where she continued for 15 years. Then she became the University of Iowa's first Full Professor of Dance. From the University of Iowa, Judy accepted a position at the University of Hawaii – Manoa, then to George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Finally, she became the Department Chair at California State University at Long Beach before retiring and returning to Iowa City, Iowa.

Along the way, Judy was a tenured Full Professor at all of the institutions she served. She was a brilliant choreographer, always willing to accept "cast of thousands" in her dances to insure that all of her students had the opportunity to perform. Notable works from her Iowa days included "That All-American Game," and "Swing, Swing, Swing," which she notated and shared with dance departments across the nation. She collaborated with her colleagues in the dance and music departments to help produce "Lemon Cinders" and other major works for the Dance Galas in Hancher Auditorium.

While at the University of Hawaii, she created a work for their Kennedy Center's 25th season titled "The Anniversary Waltz," coordinating with Music Professor Armand Russell and 25 married couples from the community who had been married at least 25 years. It was a spectacular, show-stopping finale to a great college dance concert.

Judy served the national college dance scene as the Treasurer, Vice President, and President of the American College Dance Festival, helping to grow that organization's presence and prestige throughout the nation.

Judy loved musicals, Broadway, the West End in London, and the Chicago theatre scene.

She and Eddie went whenever there was time and money. She loved to travel, cruise with the Garrison Keillor bunch all over Europe, and visit with friends and relatives across the country. Judy was a really good bowler in her day, loved to play bridge, and enjoyed the shows in Las Vegas.

Judy loved tap dancing, and, after a slow start at the Iowa City Senior Center, she had a wonderful following of seniors of all ages taking her tap classes.

Judith Sue "Judy" Novak Allen died on November 25, 2022, at Oaknoll Short Term Nursing Care in Iowa City, Iowa, with her husband, Eddie, by her side.

She is survived by her husband, Eddie. She is also survived by her brother, Gary Novak, his wife, Michelle, and her family, all of Marshalltown, Iowa.

A memorial service is planned for a later date. The Gay & Ciha Funeral Home is attending the family.

I (Eddie) am thankful for and grateful to the Iowa City Hospice nurses and the staff at Oaknoll Short Term Nursing Care, as well as the Cancer Center Clinical Trial professionals who attended Judy throughout her journey with cancer. Memorial donations may be made to the University of Iowa's School of Music Percussion Ensemble, the Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center, the Cancer Center at the University of Iowa, the Iowa City Hospice, or the University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.

Information from the funeral home website.

Additional information from and edited by classmate Angela, Member #48520699.