Women2Women - Summer 2017 - 10

Women2Know

Groundbreakers
Who Pave the Way For
Future Generations of Women
We talked to four Berks County women who refuse to take "no" for an answer. These women
are groundbreakers, changing the way things have been done and leading the way for future
improvements in primarily male-dominated occupations. They continue to excel in careers where
few women have gone before them, paving the way for generations of women.
By Leah Williams

Judge Linda Ludgate

Retired Award-Winning Berks County Judge & Current Senior Judge
Senior Judge Linda Ludgate was blessed with strong role
models and a community who supported her career
goals. These models, coupled with her outspoken
personality "that comes from being the youngest of
14 children," led her to an award-winning law career,
which she continues at age 74.

and People Against Rape, there were men involved too.
Several of us opened our home to women and children
who had nowhere to go."

Ludgate achieved success despite pushback. There
were "some people who just didn't 'like' women
lawyers," let alone a woman judge. However, as a
Though Ludgate began college later in life, graduating
female judge, Ludgate felt she may have been more
from Alvernia University in her 30s and continuing law
approachable in her community. "Even today I may go
school at Temple University, her desire to be a lawyer is grounded
to a store and someone comes up to me, 'Like ten years ago you
in her childhood. She recognized
sentenced me, now I'm sober,'"
this drive during the burial of her
As a female judge, Ludgate felt she may have been said Ludgate.
older brother who enlisted in the more approachable in her community. "Even today I
army but had wanted to be a lawyer
When balancing career and
and was accepted into law school. may go to a store and someone comes up to me, 'Like family life, a challenge that often
ten years ago you sentenced me, now I'm sober.'" presents greater obstacles for womAfter a legal career of over 30 years,
en, Ludgate explained that "women
Ludgate is noted for her service in
need to know you don't need to
criminal court. Additionally, she is a founder of Berks Women in Crisis,
choose between having a career and a family. I feel a great deal of
now SafeBerks, and is honored to have received several awards, including
pride in having children."
the 2006 "Voices for Change" award and "The Linda K M Ludgate Award
for Excellence in Leadership of a CJAB Award," named and presented
Ludgate emphasized compassion as the most important quality
by The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
to have as a judge. "If you don't have compassion, you lose part
of yourself. You have to believe in yourself. And you have to do it
Both men and women influenced Ludgate's career success. She rembecause there's a fire in your body to do it."
inisced, "When the group of us volunteered to begin Women in Crisis
10 Women2Women Summer 2017

PIXELERY/123RF STOCK PHOTO

Whether they are judges, funeral directors, doctors or engineers, women continue to achieve
immense professional success in a multitude of careers, despite adversity.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Women2Women - Summer 2017