IN MEMORIAM: Remembering Departed Colleagues

Three anti-nuclear colleagues have passed on in recent weeks.

Judith Mohling, of Colorado, died January 12 at age 87. She was a watchdog on the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons facility for decades, and helped shut it down. She served at Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center and Alliance for Nuclear Accountability.

Julie Weatherington-Rice, of Ohio, passed on January 26 at age 76. She was a geologist, and served as expert witness for Ohio Nuclear-Free Network against the Perry atomic reactor’s license extension.

Francis Boyle, of Illinois, passed at age 74 on January 30. He was an anti-nuclear weapons legal scholar, who testified against weapons-grade plutonium Mixed Oxide (MOX) nuclear reactor fuel, and in defense of civil disobedience activists facing trial.

See below for more.

Francis Boyle

John LaForge of Nukewatch Wisconsin wrote the following on February 3rd:

This is such terribly sad news. Since 1996 when I first met Prof. Boyle — working on the Plowshares defense of Donna Howard (RIP) and Tom Hastings — Francis never refused to help with a case of nonviolent resistance to nuclear madness. Francis’s published work on nuclear weapons and law has informed and inspired thousands of us, maybe tens of thousands. His expert testimony in dozens of court cases forced the mostly uneducated judges and prosecutors to deny, obfuscate, and violate their own statutes and oaths as the pretended nuclear weapons are lawful. When a rare judge was honest enough to allow Prof. Boyle’s testimony to be heard, in the US or around the world, then courts or juries were convinced of the outlaw status of the Bomb and found defendants not guilty. Prof. Boyle’s work will stand forever as the last word on the criminality of nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons threats.

 

Judith Mohling

See Judith Mohling’s obituary here.

 

Julie Weatherington-Rice

Adam A. Rice wrote the following:

It’s with great sadness that I announce the unexpected passing of my mom Julie Weatherington-Rice. She left this state of existence peacefully at home in her sleep. It was both unexpected and also not a total surprise.

In 2023 she had a major health scare that put her in the hospital/rehab for six weeks. On the other side her health made a dramatic comeback. She was doing better and looked 10-20 years younger. We all were not only given more time with her but also a higher quality of time.

This is not her obituary (that is still to come). I do want to share three stories of my most recent in person moments with her.

In December we went to see “A Complete Unknown”. I was the youngest person in the theater. It was wonderful to revisit 1963-65 with her. We talked at length about the film, that period of time, and her connection to the music.

After Christmas she gave my youngest son (a budding geologist) a guided tour of the Geological Museum at OSU. Then we went over to the main library (her place of employment for nearly 10 years). It was a wonderful outing for all three of us.

Last week I took her to a “job” interview for a citizen advisory board in our home town. It was very entertaining and fascinating to watch her interview with half of City Council for a role that in her words she “didn’t really have time to do but also didn’t think they would be able to find enough of the right candidates.” She urged them to not overlook the unsexy issues (such as infrastructure) when updating the comprehensive plan. I’m happy that I got to witness it.

She was full of confidence, determination, and energy right up until the end. She was the “old timer” who wanted to retire but also wanted to make sure important things were getting done. She use to joke the only way she could ever retire would be to move out of state. The truth is she would have found (or started) other groups to continue to fight for protecting the environment and the people.

It’s been overwhelming to see the love and sadness from so many people for whom I’ve never met (some I know by name and others who are new to me). It’s eye opening when you can see your parents from a different perspective. I know she would want all of you to continue the good and necessary work.

Her and my dad’s influence have impacted my life, my career and, my worldview. When I was a teenager I told her “I didn’t want to do what they do (follow in their footsteps) for my career.” She simply said “That will be challenging as we have done a little bit of everything.” She was right as I find myself entering my 20th year in affordable housing and public policy. As she often said “it’s all connected and it’s all important.” If I can make 1/10th of the impact she made in her lifetime, then I will feel that I made a difference.

I can’t begin to express how much she cared about ALL of us.

Susan and I are still in the early stages of figuring out what will happen next. We will likely hold a celebration of life in late July around her birthday time. We will post more details in the coming weeks.

In the meantime please continue to love each other and work to make your community a better place.