January 13, 2025—Pathfinder International mourns the passing of Julia (Judy) Kahrl, who served as a reproductive rights advocate throughout her life. Judy was a longtime supporter of the organization and served on Pathfinder’s Board of Directors from 1957 to 2021.
As a Board member, Judy visited our programs in Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Peru, Mozambique, India, and Vietnam. Her conservation interests led her to see the interrelationship of reproductive health and the environment, an idea that contributed to Pathfinder’s adoption of population, health, and environment programming.
Outside of Pathfinder, Judy founded Grandmothers for Reproductive Rights, a national US-based advocacy group engaging older women in reproductive health philanthropy and activism. She graduated from Radcliffe College and earned her PhD in adult education at Ohio State University.
“We remember Judy’s outstanding contributions to Pathfinder’s growth as an organization that advances reproductive rights and choice around the world,” said Collin Mothupi, Pathfinder’s Board Chair. “She was a fierce advocate for women’s access to contraception and reproductive health services in the US and the countries where Pathfinder works. We remain forever grateful for her service.”
Judy once said, “I see a world where every woman who wants contraception has it…where every family lives a healthy life in harmony with their environment.” These words reflect the ethos of Pathfinder’s work.
