How Did Judy Reardon Die? Political Strategist Cause of Death Explained

Manchester Political Power house Judy Reardon died on Friday at the age of 64.

Who was Judy Reardon?

Reardon was born on Feb. 12, 1958, to Patrick and Viola, a couple who married as young adults while working at the R.G. Sullivan Cigar Factory on Pleasant Street. The family settled into a modest house at the corner of Summer and Dearborn Streets on the East Side.

She was most recognized for her career-long contributions to Manchester and New Hampshire politics, especially for her time spent serving as Jeanne Shaheen’s chief counsel and political advisor (D-NH). Reardon was, however, Reardon’s younger sister, explorer, and State Representative Patty Cornell’s (D-Manchester) friend.

The sisters’ future involvement in the community was foreordained early on because their mother represented Ward 5 for more than 20 years on the Manchester Board of School Committee. Their father was a World War II veteran who later worked as a firefighter.

Judy Reardon Career

Reardon’s first position was as a hostess at Mr. Steak, which was situated on the corner of Auburn and Elm. Reardon attended Dartmouth College after Central High School in 1976. she served as managing editor of the student newspaper and eventually received a B.A. in economics. Later, she enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she graduated with a J.D.

In 1983, Reardon joined the prominent Manchester law firm of McLane, Graf, Raulerson & Middleton, which was founded by the grandfather of U.S. Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster (D-NH-02).

It was there that Reardon practiced law for five years while simultaneously serving two terms as a State Representative, appointed Democratic Whip in her second term. In 1988, Reardon held a senior position on Paul McEachern’s campaign for governor and later went on to work on the 2004 campaigns of John Lynch for Governor and John Kerry for President.

Judy hired as a Legal Counsel

In 1989, Reardon left her post at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England to work as a public defender. Three years later, she was hired to fill the position of public affairs director. This was just the start of a lifetime’s worth of lobbying effort, both paid and unpaid.

Reardon was Shaheen’s legal advisor when she took the oath of office as New Hampshire’s first female governor in 1997. And Reardon relocated to Washington, D.C., after Shaheen was elected as the first female senator from New Hampshire in 2009. Reardon was eventually admitted into the Central High Hall of Fame in honor of her accomplishments.