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June 19, 1948 - August 20, 2022
Cynthia Elizabeth Altus (Tompkins) died of a stroke on August 20, 2022, in the northern Virginia town of Ashburn. She had moved there from Millburn to be close to her daughter Jennifer Larner, son-in-law Mike, and their two sons, Brian and Matthew. Jennifer and Mike are also graduates of Millburn High School.
Cindy’s husband of 33 years, William Leslie Tompkins, was an MHS grad too – Class of ’67. She and Les lived in Millburn for many years prior to his death in 2019.
Cindy was a graduate of Greensboro College in Greensboro, NC. She was a program coordinator at Berger Group Holdings, Inc. in Morristown and owned The Executive Keyboard. Cindy was an avid tennis player, needle pointer, and animal lover. She and Les loved to travel, taking biennial trips to Hawaii and summer vacations with their grandsons to various destinations across the United States.
Following Les’ death, Cindy experienced a number of very severe health issues that precipitated her move to Virginia. By all accounts, she faced those medical challenges with courage and determination, wanting to live to see her grandsons graduate. Sadly that was not to be, but to the end, she exhibited that same quality described next to her photo in our MHS yearbook, The Miller – “a smile and a wink for everyone.”
As appears in The Star-Ledger, September 8-September 9, 2022, “a graveside service will be held on September 24, 2022 at 11am at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Cemetery, 451 Millburn Ave., Millburn, NJ. … In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center (https://www.sthuberts.org/).” Cindy will be buried there in St. Stephens Cemetery, just across the street from Millburn High School.
(Photo courtesy of Judy Eron)
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Sandra 'Sandy' Hall
Judy Eron wrote this memory as part of her notification to us that Cindy had died and asked that we post it for her ...
"I think I may have known Cindy as well as anyone could have. She and I lived back-to-back from the time we were two years old. We could slip through the fence in our backyards and play on my swings or roller skate around the block. It was a different time then when we could all play outside until dark. Cindy was an only child. So we shared special things ... like coming over on Christmas Day to see her toys, that sort of thing. We walked to Wyoming School together, walked home for lunch. As Cindy's 'sort-of-sister,' her parents took me along for a week's cruise on a German boat to Bermuda in our senior year. When Cindy started smoking, my mother would let her sneak over to smoke!
I was a bridesmaid at Cindy's first wedding and embroidered a growth chart for her daughter Jennifer's birth. When that marriage ended, she moved home to Millburn. We were confidantes to one another. When I lived in Nashville, she came to visit and hear my all-female band play at a local club. And, I spoke at Jennifer's wedding.
Cindy met Les, another Millburn local. They married and lived a few blocks from our childhood homes for the next decades. We got together whenever I came to Millburn, visiting over Millburn Deli sandwiches! When Les died 3 years ago, Cindy was already having some health problems. She bravely faced lung cancer and subsequent radiation treatments. She had stomach, circulatory and back problems. There were numerous hospitalizations and in-home caregivers. I couldn't be with her as I was living in Texas then, but we talked often on the phone. Fortunately, her cousin Sandy was able to stay with her for prolonged amounts of time.
Amazingly, Cindy never gave up. Covid kept me from flying from Texas to see her. Then her body played another trick on her when a lymph node in her throat prevented Cindy from talking above a whisper. Our phone calls ceased. But she kept on. We stayed connected; I sent her videos of my daily life; she texted back.
When she couldn't live in her house alone any longer, Jennifer and Mike moved Cindy into an apartment at a comfortable assisted living center near them in Virginia. Giving up her own home was a huge blow. But Cindy kept on. She made this apartment 'homey' with thiings from her Millburn home and was adjusting to the move. Then within a couple of months, new health problems brought more hospitalizations followed by stays at rehabilitation facilities. More severe circulatory problems led to the amputation of her lower leg. I thought this would take away all her drive, and that the amputation would be too much for her. But she kept on, went to physical therapy, and was getting fitted for a prosthesis. No matter what was thrown at her, Cindy's courage and drive astounded me. She often told me her determination came from wanting to see her gransons graduate.
When a stroke and heart problem left one of her arms useless, she made friends with one of the nurses who helped her write texts to me as Cindy dictated. She just kept on and kept on, continually amazing me with her courage, drive, and ability to stay positive. She died on August 20, 2022. I grieve her loss, and for the remainder of my life will admire the inspiring courage and hope she expressed and demonstrated to those around her as she fought the unrelenting illnesses that took her life away. Bravo, Cindy." (Thank you, Judy)
John Hitchins
My condolences to Judy Eron. Judy, you were and are a true friend to Cindy, our high school, junior, and elementary school classmate. I am so sorry to learn of her very difficult health battles in her last few years. I am just so glad that we all got to see her and reconnect at our MHS 50th Reunion in 2016. She had a good time and seemed well at that time. I enjoyed Cindy as my dance partner in 6th grade when we all had the opportunity to get ballroom dance instruction down in the gym after school on Fridays. I am happy that she and I could share that memory during our reunion weekend. May God bless her and all her loved ones. Peace, John Hitchins
Barbara Lydecker (Crane)
Cindy was such a nice person and fun to be with. It's sad to learn that she has died after what sound like longstanding, concerning health problems, but Judy's remembrance makes it clear that her spirit always shined through and kept her going. That's quite an inspiration. Thanks for writing this, Judy.
Margery 'Margie' Mellman
Dear Judy, thank you for writing that beautiful piece about cindy and your friendship with her and all her health difficulties that she courageously faced. I had read her obituary this last week in the Millburn Item, butbyiur portrait really expressed her humanity. My condolences her family and to you, her friend.