Cynthia "Cindy" Anne Wright

Cynthia Anne "Cindy" Wright was born at the old Saint Agnes Hospital in Fresno, CA, on May 22, 1954. She was the fourth child of Melvin and Polly Wright, joining two older brothers and a sister, with four more sisters to follow.

The family attended St. Helen's Church and School. Over the years, all of the Wright siblings attended YMCA Camp Santa Teresita at Bass Lake, where many happy memories, braided key chains and tile ashtrays were made.

After three years at San Joaquin Memorial, Cindy graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1972. She worked a variety of jobs, including Munchie's Burgers, a small drive-through dairy on Kings Canyon Road and the City of Fresno’s Parking Division.

Cindy craved adventure that was hard to find in Fresno in the early 1970s. So every Friday, she packed her VW Karmann Ghia with snacks and a change of clothes and jumped in the car as soon as she got off work to head to the Bay Area for the weekend. She soon moved to Castro Valley and finally settled in Oakland.

Before long, Cindy got a job at Bay Area Seating Service, known as BASS Tickets. Not only did she make many long-time friends there, she got really good concert tickets. She loved seeing live music and saw shows throughout the Bay Area at the Warfield, the Paramount Theater, the Great American Music Hall and The Boarding House.

As a dedicated Dead Head, Cindy saw The Grateful Dead countless times over the years at The Greek Theater, Henry J. Kaiser Auditorium, Berkeley Community Theater, Ventura County Fairgrounds, San Francisco Civic Auditorium and Shoreline Amphitheater. She celebrated many New Year's Eves with the band at The Cow Palace and Oakland Coliseum, thanks to getting coveted tickets through the band's complicated certified mail lottery system. The highlight was traveling with friends to see the band at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado in 1987.

Cindy was also a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen. After seeing him for the first of many times at the Oakland Coliseum in 1978, Cindy became a dedicated follower. Her music collection included every one of his albums and CDs.

At a show at the small Freight and Salvage club in Berkeley in 1996, Cindy found someone "sitting in her chair". It was Gary Kuykendall, who became her best friend and partner until his passing in 2011. She joined him on many business trips to San Diego, and it was through him that she developed a love of cats, particularly black and white tuxedo cats. They lived together in Richmond, California, where she spent the happiest years of her life.

Cindy later moved to Berkeley, where she continued working as a self-employed house cleaner. She had many long-time clients in the East Bay. Cindy's new-found love of animals led her to become a Veterinary Tech, working at University Vet Hospital in Berkeley for many years. Cindy had a generous heart and helped many animal charities, as well as food banks, senior centers and churches with food distribution. She was fortunate to live in an area with wonderful neighbors who looked out for one another.

Cindy knew the value of independence and enjoyed living life on her own terms. After being diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease over 10 years ago, however, her symptoms forced her to move to an assisted living facility in the East Bay, with the assistance and support of her brother and sister-in-law Tom and Colleen. She returned to Fresno in December 2024. There, Cindy was cared for by the wonderful staff at Fresno Guest Homes Assisted Living. She passed away peacefully on October 18, 2025.

Cindy was predeceased by her parents, Mel and Polly Wright, aunt Helen Panek, sister Marty Dunlap, nephew Paul Sindt, and partner Gary Kuykendall. She leaves behind brothers Michael Wright (Diane Galliani) and Tom Wright (Colleen Sullivan) and sisters Carolyn Wright, Nancy Wright (Zoran Balat), Sally Wright and Meg Sindt (Bill), as well as numerous nieces and nephews, two great-nieces and a great-nephew.

Per her wishes, no service will be held. Tributes in Cindy's memory can be made to Miss Wrinkles Pet Adoption Center of Clovis or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

"Fare you well, fare you well.

I love you more than words can tell.

Listen to the river sing sweet songs

To rock my soul."