Judith Mae Binder

Judith Mae Binder, 82, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2025 at the Jewish Home of Rochester. Born in Philadelphia, PA on January 17, 1943, to Harry E. and Helen M. (Koskul) Binder, Judy was an Elementary Vocal Music Teacher in the Greece Public Schools for more than 20 years.

While struggling with Lewy Body Dementia herself, Judy was the primary caregiver for her beloved spouse of 48 years, Barbara V. Erbland, who’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis eventually led to her death in November.

A 1960 graduate of Abraham Lincoln High School in Philadelphia, and a 1964 graduate of the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music, Judy’s life was elegant and filled with music, creativity, love and cats.

At heart, Judy was a musician. She fluently played the piano, cello and flute, but also dabbled in the ukulele, African drums, the recorder, and numerous other instruments. She composed several songs (words and music) — including an ensemble of 10 songs which she called "Coming Home" and another personal reflection entitled "Livin' Like New." She also worked to bring music to the people of Rochester.

Judy was on the Board of Trustees for ARTwalk, on the board of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, an adjudicator for Rochester Broadway Theater League Stars of Tomorrow program, on the teaching staff for Music for People, chair of the Super Kids program and a member of the Rochester Flute Association Flute Choir.

Judy and Barbara co-founded “Come Out Dancing,” an LGBTQ+ swing dance group that brought joy and community to many. Under the label JUBA creations, they created greeting cards to celebrate birthdays and extend Christmas greetings to friends and family.

Judy’s love for adventure included post-retirement traveling with Barbara to Africa, the Galapagos Islands, the Caribbean, Belize, the Baltics and the Danube River.

She and Barbara designed and, with friends, built a cabin in the woods of South Bristol where they, along with friends and family, enjoyed many years relaxing by Turtle Pond. This was the location of their wedding on July 22, 2016, which was a celebration of their 39th anniversary.

One of her proudest accomplishments was her 2010 free-swim across Honeoye Lake which raised $10,000 for the Ontario-Yates Hospice. Along with Barbara, she participated in an "Outward Bound" adventure — toughing it out in the wilderness in a challenge that was documented in a 1987 issue of Vogue.

In addition to Barbara, she is predeceased by her former husband Jerry M. Exline and many beloved cats.

She is remembered with love by her sisters, Jennifer Ortiz (Jorge) and Jane Denoto; stepchildren, Catherine Erbland, Stephen Erbland and Peter Erbland (Rick King); step-grandchildren, Joshua Erbland (Jasmin Keys), Annie King (Andrew Hunter) and Lucy King (John Savino); step-great-grandchildren, Phoebe and Howard Hunter; and many others.

The family extends its deepest gratitude to the staff at the Jewish Home and to the Griffin family—Ginny, Michael, Paige, and Sam—for their years of friendship and support, and specifically to Ginny for her dedicated role as caregiver to Barbara and Judy for the past two and a half years.

A celebration of Barbara and Judy’s life is planned for July 2026 to celebrate what would have been their 10th wedding anniversary and acknowledge the nearly 49 years they spent together.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Jewish Home Foundation, Pet Pride of New York, the Eastman School of Music, or to other causes focused on music, cats, or caring for others.