OBITUARY Julia Spenser Tucker Rasmussen April 2, 1948 – October 5, 2018 Julia Spencer Tucker Rasmussen of Houston passed away at her home on Friday, the 5th of October 2018, after a long and courageous struggle with Alzheimer’s. She was 70 years of age. The daughter of Robert and Josephine (Pimmie) Tucker, she was born on the 2nd of April 1948, in San Antonio, and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1966.
Like her four siblings, Julia attended the University of Texas where she served as president of Phi Beta Phi. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1970 with degrees in Art History and Economics. Upon graduating, she followed her two older sisters to New York City, and few things she did afterwards were anything short of trailblazing.
In New York, she spent her weekdays as a Staff Assistant in Financial Planning and her weekends with her sister and roommate, Josie, dressing up for costume parties and hosting friends. With encouragement from a boss who recognized Julia’s potential, she attended Columbia Business School, graduating with honors in 1974 as one of the only women in her class. She then took a job with Equitable Life Insurance.
After a few years in the New York office, Julia was sent to Houston in 1977 to open a direct placement office, much to the joy of her parents who wanted at least one of their daughters to return to Texas. After a decade at Equitable Life, Julia accepted a position at American General in 1984 where she started as vice president in charge of private placement investments and later became the first female senior vice president in the company’s history. More importantly, American General introduced Julia to her future husband, Nick Rasmussen.
They wed at St. Mark’s Church in San Antonio in 1988. As another sign of her value to American General, the company changed their official policies about office relationships to keep Julia, who was planning to quit after her marriage to Nick, on board. She ended her seventeen-year tenure at American General in 2001 upon its acquisition by AIG.
While she had been a beloved and devoted aunt for many years, Julia fulfilled her lifelong dream of becoming a mother in 1989 at 41 years of age and again at 43. While balancing her accomplished career, her heart for volunteerism, and her many dear friendships, Julia consistently prioritized her children. They could not have asked for a more selfless, graceful and talented role model.
At heart she loved traveling; spending time at the home she built with her husband in Pebble Beach; cuddling with her beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels; dancing to ABBA and Frankie Valli; and celebrating holidays with her family in Houston, the Hill Country and California. Julia also was an active citizen in the Houston community, volunteering at Presbyterian School where she served on the Board of Trustees, the Junior League where she served on the Board of Directors, St. John’s School, the Garden Club of Houston, the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department, and the Museum of Fine Arts. Julia is survived by her loving family: her husband of 30 years; daughter Elizabeth; son Spencer; and step-daughter Nicole Mordy, her husband David, and their daughter Arabella.
Also surviving are two brothers, Robert Tucker of Traverse City and George Tucker of Midland; her sister Mary Cassell of Albuquerque; eight nieces and nephews; and many dear friends. She is preceded in death by her father Bob, her mother Pimmie, and her sister Josie Robertson of New York City. Julia’s family expresses its deepest gratitude towards her devoted caregivers Brenda Duarte, Lynn Scott and Liliana Claveria who filled Julia’s days with laughter and love.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Friday, the 12th of October, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston, where a video tribute celebrating her life is to be presented at seven o’clock in the adjacent Jasek Chapel. A memorial service is to be conducted at half-past one o’clock in the afternoon on Saturday, the 13th of October, at First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street in Houston, where Pastor Jon Crantz, Associate Pastor – Congregational Life, is to officiate.
Immediately following all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue to be announced during the service. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in her name be directed to The Julia Tucker Fellowship Endowment at The University of Texas’ Department of Economics, giving. utexas.
edu/JuliaTucker; or to the Alzheimer’s Association at www. alz.org.
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