Cynthia Louise Langan

Born in Baltimore on March 12, 1962, to Bob and Kathryn Parks, Cindy grew up with her older brother Bob in Laurel, Maryland and attended Laurel High School. She was a bright, friendly and active girl with interests in music, sports and “clowning” with her best friend Debbie Taylor. Cindy attended the University of Maryland where she achieved a 4.0 grade point average and a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She passed the CPA exam on her first attempt and worked as an Auditor with Arthur Andersen in Washington, D.C. where she met her future husband, John Langan. The two were married on October 18, 1986. The couple settled in Alexandria, Virginia where Cindy began an over thirty-year series of volunteer leadership roles at Franconia United Methodist Church. In 1987, Cindy accepted a position with Special Olympics International as an Assistant Controller. Cindy, along with her parents and friends, had always laughed when John told her she was “maternal”, but when on July 12th, 1989, the couple welcomed their son Patrick, it became clear that being the World’s Best Mom was her ultimate destiny. This was further fulfilled with the birth of their daughter Mary on February 16, 1993. Cindy loved and guided Patrick and Mary with her strong sense of faith, the importance of a good education and a dedication to others that obligated those given much to give back to those given little. Cindy was a tireless mom putting aside her business career and never looking back to devote herself to the needs and interests of her children. These included membership on the board of the Mount Vernon Children’s Theater to support Mary’s love of music, dance and performance and membership in the University of Maryland Terrapin Club to share, as a season ticket holder, her life-long love of Maryland Men’s Basketball warning her children, “Don’t get too excited- they’ll break your heart”! Upon the death of her father in 2005, Cindy welcomed her mother Kathryn into her home and was a constant source of love and support to her. Cindy was an avid golfer as a member of Mount Vernon Country Club, participated in the women’s golf leagues and won individual honors for her play. In 2018 at the age 56, Cindy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease that quickly manifested itself with a cognitive decline diagnosed as Lewey Body dementia that would ultimately claim her life eight years later. She accepted every stage of this cruel disease with grace, strength and faith that defined her life. While her illness took much from her, she never let it steal her sweet nature, infectious smile and the joy she found in the warmth of her family and friends and especially the smiles and laughter of her three grandchildren.