Cynthia Squires

She was born March 27, 1933 in Syracuse to Pardon L. and Helen Armstrong Overton. She spent her childhood in Syracuse and graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1954. In April 1954 Cynthia married Robert Squires of East Bethany, New York. Robert, a junior officer in the United States Naval Reserve, shipped out immediately after their brief honeymoon, for Korea. Cynthia joined him in Yukosuka, Japan in 1955.

Upon their return from Japan with their infant daughter, Deborah Rose, they settled in Cooperstown, where they welcomed their second daughter, Kathryn Elizabeth, moving later to Oneida and finally to Oneonta in 1966.

Cynthia received her Master’s degree from SUNY Oneonta in Education. She taught in several area school districts as well as in tutoring and mentoring programs. She also worked in retail and as a proofreader for The Daily Star. Her favorite occupation, however, was as a travel agent. In this capacity Cynthia planned many wonderful trips for her loyal clients, friends, and for herself and her family. She would often point to the planes flying overhead and tell you exactly where they were headed thanks to her job.

Cynthia was deeply involved in the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta from 1967 until her death, serving in the choir, and on the Religious Education team, and many committees. She was President of the Board of Trustees of the church for three years, and also represented UUSO locally and on the regional and national levels.

Cynthia’s deeply held commitment to the environment led her to spearhead the creation of a comprehensive recycling program in Otsego County in the early 1970s. She served as a member of the MOSA (Montgomery-Otsego-Schoharie Authority) Solid Waste Board that oversaw this effort.

She was an active member of the local chapters of the NAACP and the League of Women Voters, as well as the Oneonta Peace Network and several other organizations. In her later years, she remained a vocal advocate for justice and equality, and frequently called on her legislators to prioritize the health, safety, and rights of her community.

Cynthia was predeceased by her husband of 55 years in 2009, and by her son-in-law Trent Oliver in 2020. She is survived by her daughters Deborah Ramsey of Seattle, WA and Kathryn Oliver of Santa Clarita, CA; her son-in-law Robert Ramsey of Republic, WA, six grandchildren—Sarah Brown and her husband Thomas of Curlew, WA, John Ramsey of Seattle, WA, Ian Ramsey of Carmichael, CA, Kathryn Ramsey of Republic, WA, Jessie Warme and her husband Brian Bengler of Reseda, CA, and Conor Warme of Reseda, CA, and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Caroline Knapp and her husband Stuart Knapp of Dover, DE, and many nieces, nephews, and great –nieces and –nephews.

A Celebration of Life service is planned for April 1, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta, located at 12 Ford Avenue.

Memorial donations in Cynthia’s name may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta, 12 Ford Avenue, Oneonta, NY 13820, or to the Robert Squires Memorial Scholarship in care of Oneonta Dollars for Scholars, PO Box 1083, Oneonta, NY 13820.