Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka, with longtime friend Dr. Steven B. Nasatir, JUF/Federation President.

Judy Baar Topinka, who died on Wednesday, Dec. 10, will be remembered with much love by many in the Jewish community, in Springfield and across the State of Illinois.

A lifelong Republican, she was a fiscal moderate and an early advocate of gay rights, immigration reform, and abortion rights.

Topinka, who was to be inaugurated on Jan. 12, 2015 for her second term as comptroller, began her political career in the Illinois House in 1980 when it was rare to see a female state legislator. She moved to the Illinois Senate in 1984 where she served until she was elected state treasurer in 1994. She was a trailblazer for women politicians becoming, among other things, the first Republican woman nominated for governor.

But Judy will be remembered first and foremost as a pragmatic, cheerful, energetic leader who advocated with a smile on her face and a determination to find solutions to problems on behalf of all Illinois residents, regardless of class, color, or religion.

Topinka was a great friend to the Jewish community. She quickly “fell in love” with Israel on her first trip with the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation in 1994 and returned later on her own.

She was an award recipient from the Anti-Defamation League, American Committee of the Shaare Zedek Medical Center of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem’s Bikur Cholim Hospital, among other Jewish organizations.

She talked proudly about the wisdom of her decision as State Treasurer to first develop legislation, in partnership with State Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, which made it possible for the State of Illinois to invest state funds in foreign bonds, and then direct her office to purchase Israel bonds. Topinka felt so strongly about showing her support for Israel that, in spite of an earlier commitment and difficulty walking due to recent surgery, she spoke at the JUF Chicago Community Rally November 20, 2012. (Watch a video of Topinka’s speech.)

“Let’s get it straight,” she said at the rally. “Israel has the right to exist. Israel has the right to defend itself. Israel is one of the greatest allies of the United States and certainly the State of Illinois.”

Suzanne F. Strassberger is associate vice president of Government and Community Partnerships for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.