Cynthia was a wonderful person. She was always so enthusiastic about her travels with her sister! She shared photos from every trip she went on with me and it was so great to get to know a different side of her. We had a lot in common (not the least of which were our first and middle names, careers, and love of travel!). I will truly miss her.

Memories:

– How she’d share her insights into people and life with me, mentoring without even realizing it
– Being impressed by what a balanced life this woman had – yoga, cello, work, travel, family – and the perspective and balance she maintained
– How she loved eating french fries, especially at Sel de la Terre and Houston’s 🙂
– How we’d email each other before big trips to see if one or the other of us had been before or had recommendations, and to share the pre-trip excitement with a fellow traveler
– Her enthusiastic tone and that big happy grin she’d get in re-telling some aspect of her travels with her sister, even years later (I’m thinking of her re-telling of Corsica in particular here)

I’m going to miss swapping travel stories and recommendations, our dinners together, and our monthly emails.

My manager at the Baptiste yoga studio told me this morning about Cynthia’s passing. Cynthia and I started practicing years ago at about the same time. We used to be in the back row and when we would do a difficult arm balance pose I could hear her mutter under her breath “you can do it, you can do it” over and over again! I coordinate the activities of all volunteers in the Cambridge studio, and Cynthia stood out among all volunteers for her longevity at the studio, her dedication to excellence in letting students know exactly where they could put their mats and store their stuff. Ironically, I sent her a note this morning to ask “what’s up?” when she had not shown the past couple of weeks. While I did not know her personally beyond my experience with her in the studio, it is evident to me that Cynthia was a committed person with a lot of integrity and devotion to whatever she did. She spoke very fondly of her family and especially Sarah and the trips you have taken together. She always greeted me with a smile and a bit of information that may have been helpful to me in my job at the studio. She stood tall. I enjoyed her tremendously and am unspeakably sad about her passing. I can’t imagine what you must be feeling but I wish for the comfort and peace of your family in this difficult time.

Sarah, my heart goes out to you and your family. The news was devastating. I, along with 70+ others, played with Cynthia in the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra. Cynthia was always very engaged with the group, whether by coming out for our socials or by volunteering (even if it was as tedious as cutting hundreds of small blocks of cheese for our concert receptions!) or just by really listening diligently to our conductor and responding to her humor with a huge smile and a ready laugh. She will be very sorely missed. We would be honored to contribute music to the memorial, Sarah, if you and your family would be interested. Either way, there will be friends from the CSO in attendance on Saturday. Know that you’re in all our thoughts…

Sarah, I am so shocked and saddened, and my heart goes out to you and your family and everyone Cynthia knew and loved. I just can’t believe this, it’s unreal. I knew Cynthia from when I used to be a member at her church in Cambridge. We shared a lot of time together in the young adult group there. I last saw her at the end of June right before she went to Croatia and I was about to move out of the area. She always was interested in how people were doing and concerned about how I was getting through life. After telling me about the amazing trip to the ANWR, she asked about where I was going to travel next. And I responded I just hadn’t made enough time to take a vacation for a long time. Cynthia’s response was one of immediate concern, saying she thought I was the hardest-working person she knew, but that I should take some time to relax for my own sake. That’s just the way she was. Her presence and memory will live on in my heart. Please accept the expression of my very deepest condolences.

Sarah, I am so sad to learn of your loss. I knew Cynthia at the Baptiste studios, where I am one of the teachers. Before I became a yoga teacher, I was a lawyer, so Cynthia and I bonded over that immediately, and talked a lot about the crazy world of law and the crazy-in-its-own-way world of yoga. I loved having her in my class and talking to her around the studio, because she was one of those people who keep things REAL. There was no pretense to Cynthia. She had such a grounded, sometimes pleasantly skeptical, way about her that was so refreshing. And such a wry sense of humor — easy to miss, but once my eyes were opened to it, something I always looked forward to. I will miss her. You and your family have my deepest condolences. Please know that your sister touched so many lives, in little nooks and crannies of the world that you might not have heard much about, like the basement of the Baptiste studio in Cambridge, and that her memory will stay with us.

Sarah, I am of course in shock, I am so sad. I worked with Cynthia at the Baptiste yoga studio a lot and I have to tell you she brightened my mornings, days, & nights at the studio with her subtle wit, laugh, honesty and her distinctive smile. I remember her excitingly telling of the adventures the two of you had (Italy in particular) and of her condo and of running and of course yoga. I always felt like we had known each other from way back. I remember recently I saw her after not seeing her for awhile and got the warmest welcome from Cynthia. She made me feel like I was home. And of course that Cambridge studio is like a home away from home for a lot of people and she made many people feel welcome. Cynthia treated everyone the same, I loved that about her, and had such a kind heart and such a unique Cynthia way about her and I will miss her tremendously. I will be there Sat. to share in the remembrance of Cynthia.

Please know that I am thinking of you and your family and you have my most heartfelt condolences.

Sarah,
My thoughts and my heart are with you and your family. I am going to have to write a series of comments because I have so many wonderful memories of Cynthia. I started writing a brief comment last night, but it reached four pages so I decided to save it to a file and start over.

I think that I will start with a work memory because it is easier to share. Cynthia would aimlessly wander the halls of Lahive and Cockfield (her law firm) popping her head in to say hello to people and grabbing a candy every time she passed a candy bowl. Inevitably some new person would see her wandering and make a comment like, “How does she get anything done when she just walks up and down the halls?” We let the new people know that Cynthia was brilliant. When she looked like she was aimlessly wandering, she was actually going over problems in her head. After returning to her office she would sit down and type out the solution that she had mapped out in detail in her head. She was incredibly efficient even including her meandering walks through the entire firm.

People often underestimated Cynthia when they first met her. Maybe it was because she seemed lost in thought. Maybe it was because she never bragged, boasted or brought attention to her own accomplishments. Maybe it was because she was so young and so beautiful. Eventually, Cynthia amazed everyone.

I have 25 years of memories of Cynthia, and no way to choose a favorite. I never realized how often I think about her until now. My shelves are lined with books we discussed, my cupboards are full of Penzey’s spices I bought with her, my closets are full of clothes I tried on for her to get her opinion. She placed such value on leading an original life and she had so many talents. Ultimately, though, the memories I cherish are small ones. I loved the way she never made me feel guilty about sleeping late in the guestroom while she got up at the crack of dawn to go running and do yoga. When she came back, she’d make oatmeal and swiftly complete the sudoku in the morning paper before heading out for work, and I’d still be lying in bed. She had so much energy and sense of purpose. Her life was a work of art, as she intended it to be, and too too short.

I have been sending just a ton of love and appreciation to Cynthia’s soul and spirit. I have been fortunate to have Cynthia as one of my very special regulars in the Sunday evening intermediate Baptiste yoga class. She loved that class and I love how much the yoga meant to her. I wish there was something I could have done to help. I will miss her so very much and I will dedicate sending as much love and assistance as I can to everyone in my yoga classes, in her name and spirit!

My memories of Cynthia come from our connection at the Baptiste Yoga Studio. I remember her riding her bike thru rain, sleet and snow on the coldest, coldest of days in the dark pre-dawn hours to get to the studio. And even more remarkable than that feat in itself was that she arrived happy and smiling. Cynthia was a natural at engaging anyone in conversation. She would arrive beaming into the studio saying ” I just got back from Croatia!” and would then proceed to share the joys of her travels.
I am heartbroken to hear she is no longer with us. I will remember her most fondly for her authenticity and I will be inspired by it, in her memory.
My deepest heartfelt condolences to all her family and friends.

As everyone I am so shocked and sad to hear about Cynthia. Everyone that knew her is just heartbroken. I practiced with her at BPYI as well as worked with her many mornings at the front desk. We were able to always catch up with each other lives and I wish I could have more mornings together. Recently we would say hi every morning while she was jogging around the park at Raymond street and I’ll never imagine the park without her. All my love goes out to your family.

Cynthia was an integral member of our cooking club for the past 5 years. In the early years I truly believe she was the main motivator to keep our group strong, and pushing us to meet every month without fail. She was the expert dessert maker and we enjoyed many a decadent souffle or cake from her kitchen. We are all in shock and deeply saddened, and we wish the best to your family during this difficult time. We are gathering next week and will cook and eat and laugh and do our best to keep her spirit alive.

I am so shocked by Cynthia’s passing that it almost leaves me without words to express my condolences. I met Cynthia 5 years ago at the inception of our cooking club and have been amazed at her dedication to the group. I learned a lot from Cynthia since her cooking skills wereso opposite mine–she could bake just about anything from scratch and I can hardly make slice and bake cookies. She challenged our group with menus outside our comfort zone, and I hope we will be able to honor memory but continuing that trend.

Cindy was always telling me to rejoice, exult, and remember luminous things. She was a true romantic, feeling deeply the eternal sublimity of life in nature, wilderness, music, history, feminine beauty, good food, poetry, and true companionship. And all of these things she brought into my world. As children, we chanted Kubla Khan on the playground, smuggled brownies into the National Art Museum, played flute on the school bus, and camped in our back yards. We ate rum-spiked chocolate cake, learned to fence, and dreamed of visiting faraway places, which we later did. Cindy learned to write in ancient runes and to play the carillon and the cello. She sent us poems. She took us out to trendy gourmet restaurants and cooked us fabulous soufflés. She lived a car-free life in her beloved Cambridge. She was a witness to all my life that mattered.

Sarah, I am so sorry for your loss. I knew Cynthia at Wellesley. We sailed and rowed together, and I used to sit with her in the tower while she played Prince William’s March for me on the Wellesley carillon. I hadn’t run into her much lately. I wish there were something, anything, that any of us could do.

Sarah, I was so heartbroken to hear from Ruth about Cindy’s passing. I hadn’t seen her for many, many years, but in looking thru the photos you posted I had so many memories to recall of her warmth and continuous SMILE that never seemed to go away. I honestly CANNOT remember ever seeing Cindy without a smile on her face. In looking thru the posts above, she obviously went on to do marvelous things and touch many, many lives. Please know that we’re thinking of you and praying for you.

My condolences to the entire family. I did not know Cindy well but did know her when she was a student at TJHSST (I was in the class ahead of hers, ’91). I agree with the comment above that I can’t remember seeing her not smiling. She was always a very sweet and kind person. Rest in peace.

I’m so sorry to hear of your loss — my brother went to school with her and she took flute lessons from the same teacher that I did once upon a long, long time ago. At the time I knew her (she was about 4 years younger than I was) she seemed like she was about to emerge into the beautiful butterfly that she clearly grew up to become — she always had a spirit about her that was good and kind.

I’m so sorry for you and your family. I played in the CSO with your sister; all of our hearts are broken. HUGE HUGS

Cynthia was such a light at Harvard-Epworth UMC. I loved hearing the stories of her travels with you Sarah. I will miss her.

Sarah – I’m so sorry for your loss. I just learned of Cindy’s passing through a chain of people we grew up with in Alexandria. I sat next to her in the flute section in band numerous times. She was always so incredibly nice to everyone she met. I saw her maybe 6 years ago at a fund raiser in Alexandria with your parents, and she was nicer than ever. It was great to hear her talk about how happy she was. You all will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Sarah,
I was so sad this fall to learn of Cindy’s death. To me it remains a total mystery since I think I only met her the one time at Uncle Ralph’s memorial. It’s nice, however, to learn more about her from all of these comments. I know that I missed a lot by never having gotten to know her. Your dad was diligent about always sending photos of his three wonderful children each Christmas and I’m grateful for that. My heart goes out to you and all of your family. Thank you for sharing all of this.
Kathy

Sarah, I am so sorry that you have lost your sister. My daughter. Emily Templeton Bragg, shares the same sadness with you as she lost her sister, Catherine, almost 3 weeks ago. Your mother was Catherine’s PT when she was a preschooler and was such a help to me when I didn’t know anything about Cerebral Palsy. I learned of Cynthia’s passing around Christmas when I went to Aldersgate for services with my mother. I am so sorry I didn’t write to you and your family sooner. I remember the 3 of you as teenagers, up at the altar, reciting together. My heart breaks for you and Eric. Unfortunately, I now share sadness with your mother and father.
Beverly Dasch, Manassas, VA