CYNTHIA WHITE HAMILTON

On Mother’s Day….May 10…Cynthia White

Hamilton passed away peacefully at the age of 99

at Kingsway Nursing Center. Her family is deeply

saddened by the loss of their loving mother,

Grandma and Mema and Aunt.

Cynthia was born on April 8, 1927 in Springfield,

MA., the daughter of the late Clarence and Mabel

White. She was raised in Longmeadow, MA and

graduated from Classical High School in

Springfield in 1944. She obtained an Associate

Degree in liberal arts from Westfield Junior

College in Portland, Maine prior to receiving a

dental hygiene degree from the University of

Pennsylvania School of Oral Hygiene in 1947.

While growing up Cynthia became a talented

dancer, ice skater and tennis player,

skills she pursued throughout her life. During

college she danced in USO shows for

hospitalized sailors. When she was a teenager,

she was recruited for the Ice Capades but her

father refused to let her join them. She won

several Springfield tennis tournaments during her

teen years and was one of the 15 founding

members of the Schenectady Women’s Tennis

Association (SWTA) in the sixties. In Schenectady

she also excelled and used her skills to run clinics

for SWTA. As an adult she embraced skiing and

especially loved skiing with friends at Whiteface.

She pursued all her sports until her mid eighties

and even occasionally hit golf balls with her

grandson in her nineties.

Her children were fortunate that she was a stay at

home mom until their teen years.

She volunteered with their schools and scouts

and hosted all their friends. In 1968 she began

working for Dr. Grace Jorgenson at Bellevue

Hospital and eventually became the Executive

Secretary to the Medical Staff. She quickly

became the first Certified Coordinator of Medical

Staff Services in the Capital Region. While

serving as the Executive Secretary she was in

charge of medical staff education, the library,

archival services, and she served as Director of

Bellevue’s Volunteer Program.

She was a member of the National, NY State and

Capital district associations of medical staff

services.

At Bellevue she received their Circle of Excellence

Award. She was also recognized as a recipient of

the YMCA Today’s Woman Award, which was

given to recognize that she was a model in how

to blend family, career and community

service. She was described by her fellow

employees as “Bellevue’s greatest ambassador”

both within the hospital and out in the community

and as great role model for younger women in the

community.

While working at Bellevue she also served as a

docent and wedding and event planner at the

Glen Sanders Mansion prior to it becoming a

restaurant. She volunteered for many

organizations including 15 years as an usher at

Proctors.

The First Reformed Church of Schenectady was

her primary love. She was named a Deacon there

after many years of service and also served as a

Stephen Minister. She took on 2 major

fundraising efforts at the church. She was a co

chair of the church Kermis (fair) and she was a

co-chair of the first house tour ever held in the

Capital Region. HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

was a result of brainstorming with a friend and

they made it happen.

Cynthia enjoyed her memberships in Group 5 of

First Reformed Church, Chapter T of the

PEO, Garden Club of Schenectady, the

Schenectady-Nijkerk (Holland) Council and her

antiques group.

In addition to her parents, her sisters Jocelyn

Hanson and Marilyn Grogan, as well as her son in

law, Dick Phillippe, predeceased her. She is

survived by her daughter, Cindy H. Phillippe of

Niskayuna; and her son, Robert B. Hamilton, III

also of Niskayuna. Also grandchildren and their

families, Jennifer P. Ludwig (George) and Griffin

Connors and Chase Connors, Saratoga Springs;

John R. Phillippe, Jr. (Jennifer) and Jack and

Kate, Falls Church, VA; and Jeffrey G. Phillippe

(Daniela) and Dylan and Cynthia, Lyons,

CO. Several nieces and nephews will also miss

her.

A memorial service will he held in the future.

In lieu of flowers or trees, please consider a

contribution in her memory to:

The Niskayuna Community Foundation, c/o

CFGCR…2 Tower Place….Albany, NY 12203. Or

to First Reformed Church…8 North Church

Street…Schenectady, NY 12305