Julianne Graham Lehoczky (“Julie”), of Huntsville, Alabama, passed away Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the age of 82. She is survived by her daughter Etelka; her sons Elek and Sandor; her daughter’s partner Adam Aronow; her daughter-in-law Martha Escobar; her grandchildren Orion, Amadea, Atlas, and Polaris; and her sisters Berryman Penhallegon and Cynthia Little. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. Sandor “Alex” Lehoczky.
Julie was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1944. Despite being advised against pursuing science, she chose to study chemistry at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (then called the Woman’s College). Graduating with a Bachelor of Science, she went on to teach high school chemistry. While in college she met Alex, and their romance led to marriage in 1968. It was the beginning of a 50-year union.
Julie and Alex moved to the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, where their three children were born. Deeply interested in Alex’s Hungarian culture, Julie learned bits of the language and was the driving force in ensuring their children had Hungarian names. (She invariably wrote “Lehóczky” with the proper accent over the “o”.) She was committed to improving educational standards, co-founding the organization Advocates for Gifted Education (AGE) and working for increased funding for local schools. She also volunteered as a girl scout troop leader.
In 1982 the Lehoczkys moved to Huntsville, Alabama. In addition to keeping the family home and raising the children, Julie found outlets for her sparkling intelligence and scientific training. She worked for Boeing in the 1990s, testing recycled water samples for safety. In the course of that work she taught herself to use computer software such as Lotus 1-2-3, learning to write programs to manipulate data. She was an avid reader, particularly works of popular science, and a supporter of the Land Trust of North Alabama. She volunteered in the community, most memorably as a race official in local swim meets, where she was known for her objectivity in the face of pressure.
Julie had a lifelong love of horses and realized her dream of owning a horse later in her life. Her horse Lady became a daily companion and the inspiration for a new stage of personal growth. Mounted on Lady, Julie studied dressage riding and participated in local horse shows. She became an avid supporter of multiple animal rights and animal rescue organizations. Julie and Alex also found time to travel, visiting Alex’s birth country of Hungary as well as Austria, Italy, Mexico, and Russia.
Julie touched many lives as a wife, mother, grandmother, scientist, community member, and friend. Her life will be celebrated with a visitation on Saturday, July 11 from 12:30-2:30pm, followed by a funeral service at 3:00pm, at Spry Funeral Home & Crematory in Huntsville, Alabama. Flowers may be sent to Spry Funeral Home & Crematory.
