Judy Oppenheimer, a writer and journalist, passed away on May 1 in Baltimore. She was most known for writing a biography that explored the brief and troubled life of Shirley Jackson, an author whose short story “The Lottery” became one of the most widely read works in American fiction during the 20th century. Her age was 82.
In addition to bone cancer, she suffered from Parkinson’s disease, according to her son, Toby Oppenheimer. The assisted living community was where she passed away.
Ms. Oppenheimer began her professional life at The Washington Post, the daily that served as her hometown newspaper. During the 1960s, she was elevated from the position of “copy girl” to that of reporter. Later on, she was employed by the Philadelphia Daily News. After that, she relocated to the Washington region and began working as a freelancer while also raising her two sons.
In 1988, she published her first book, which was titled “Private Demons: The Life of Shirley Jackson.” This book brought her widespread attention. It was the first biography of the author who is most known for his work “The Lottery,” which caused a stir when it was published in the New Yorker magazine in 1948.