Cynthia W. Baldwin, 96

THORNTON — Cynthia Woods Baldwin, age 96, of Chickenboro Road, was reunited with her favorite dance partner Nov. 12.

She was born Cynthia Letitia Woods on June 13, 1929, in Springfield, Massachusetts, the third of four children, to Howard N. and Edith Asquith Woods.

Born on the cusp of The Greatest Generation and raised during the Great Depression, she learned early to scrimp and save and work hard for all that she had. “If you can’t afford it ... don’t buy it. If it goes on sale ... get it before it’s gone!”

In middle school, she learned to knit mittens, scarves and hats for British soldiers in World War II. This was the beginning of 80-plus years of the most beautifully handcrafted sweaters.

Cynthia graduated from Fitchburg, Massachusetts, High School, class of 1947. “A sunbeam in a winter’s day. Vivacity-full. Strong willed. Open hearted. Fair minded. Loves an argument for its own sake. Outstanding school spirit. Loves any and all sports. Indispensable 'horn-tooter.’ Peppy-stepping majorette.” Pretty good summation.

She moved on from there to attend the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital School of Nursing in Boston, Massachusetts, completing her studies in 1950. Following graduation, she worked as a surgical nurse at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital for 10 years, during a very exciting time of medical and surgical innovation. If you look up “hospital corners” in the dictionary, you will most likely find her photo.

When not busy working, you could likely find her out on the ski slopes at Cannon Mountain in Franconia Notch, where she met her great love, Todd. Their mutual love of skiing and adventure led them to multiple ski area start-up developments, including Geneva Basin Ski Area in Guanella Pass, Colorado, Benjamin Hill Ski Area in Shirley, Massachusetts, and lastly, to the Waterville Valley Ski Area in Waterville Valley. This is where their shared innate sense of hospitality led them to the business of innkeeping. The Tecumseh Inn was home of operations and the place to be for many great memories from December 1967, until June of 1975, when wanderlust led them to Alaska.

While she and Todd continued to travel and adventure throughout their lives, they eventually settled in Goose Hollow, where they maintained an open door and warm hearth to many friends, old and new, over many years. They each passed with full hearts, ever curious, on to her next adventure.

Cynthia is survived by her sister, Carol and her husband Jack Spring, and many loving nieces and nephews; by her daughter, Carol Sue "Sue-Sue" Sanchez and her husband Carl Moorehead, her grandsons Nicholas Todd Sanchez and Christopher James and his wife Emily Ann Sanchez. Additionally, she was a second mother to many and Grammy to all.

Family will share hugs at Dupuis Funeral Home, 11 Hill Avenue, Ashland, New Hampshire, from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, and from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6. 

Additionally, a celebration of life will be held at the Six Burner Bistro, 13 Main St., Plymouth, from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12.