Dr. Judith Amsterdam, an Essex dentist who fought breast cancer for five years, died of the disease Tuesday at Greater Baltimore Medical Center. She was 49 and lived in Owings Mills.

A general dentist, she treated patients at public health clinics in Baltimore before joining a practice in eastern Baltimore County nearly 15 years ago.

"She had a passion for living. She taught me how to make every minute count," said Marsha Gamerman, a friend who lives in Mount Washington. "There was no task she couldn't do. She was an honest person of basic values -- family, friends, work, her home. There was no pretense to her. "

Born Judith Shenker in Queens, N.Y., Dr. Amsterdam was raised in the Philadelphia suburb of Wyndmoor, Pa. She earned an honors degree in psychology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and received her degree from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Dental Medicine in 1978.

She and her husband then moved to Baltimore. She went into public health dentistry and initially treated patients at West Baltimore Community Health Care at Monroe and Baltimore streets. She later served residents of the Hampden, Woodberry and Remington neighborhoods at another public health clinic.

In 1987 she joined her husband, Dr. Lawrence A. Amsterdam, at Country Ridge Dental Associates, an Essex dental practice the couple owned. The couple married in 1977.

"She touched so many people because she was devoted and focused," her husband said. "She was a fantastic mother and was kind and caring in her dental practice. She was astute in the business end, too. She helped me a great deal. There was no fakeness with her. She was extremely honest."

Friends said that Dr. Amsterdam did not allow her battle with cancer to restrict contact with her many friends in Northwest Baltimore.

"She put her friends first -- before she thought of herself," said Jody Levy, a friend from Pikesville. "She possessed an inner and outer beauty. She had a radiant glow about her."

"She was a perfectionist -- whatever needed to be done was accomplished by her gentle determination," said Sue Eisenberg, a friend who lives in Baltimore. "She loved her friends and kept them together."

"Even when she was sick, she exchanged gifts with her friends -- and wrote the best notes and kept journals," added Beverly Sagal, who lives in Pikesville.

"She was very strong and could face anything," said her daughter, Rachel Claire Amsterdam, a University Maryland student who lives in College Park. "If she was on your side, you were in good shape."

Family members said that Dr. Amsterdam was a student of politics and world affairs. As a student she campaigned for Democratic presidential nominee George McGovern in 1972. She read numerous newspapers and magazines and also took photos of family and friends.

Services were held Wednesday at Chizuk Amuno Congregation, where she was a member.

Dr. Amsterdam is also survived by another daughter, Alisa Faye Amsterdam, also a student at College Park; her mother, Gloria Shenker of Wyndmoor, Pa.; and a sister, Adrian Steinwedel of Cupertino, Calif.