Cynthia (Pape) Sammis

Cynthia Pape Sammis

May 11, 1930-February 4, 2023

Cynthia Pape Sammis passed away peacefully on February 4, 2023 after a period of declining health. Born in NYC on May 11, 1930 to Madeline Dieter and Herbert D. Pape, she lived in Westchester most of her life, growing up in Fleetwood and living in White Plains for 40 years until she moved Kendal on Hudson in Sleepy Hollow in 2005.

A graduate of the Barnard School for Girls in NYC and Mount Holyoke College, Class of 1952, Cynthia was a senior research analyst at New York Life Insurance Co. for 5 years. Following her marriage to William E. Sammis Jr. in 1957, she used her skills at the Barnard School as Alumnae Association president, business office manager, and a member and treasurer of the Board of Trustees over a period of almost two decades.

Cynthia was active in her community as a member and past president of the White Plains Garden Club, member and treasurer of the Board of Trustees at Memorial United Methodist Church in White Plains, and a member of the PEO Sisterhood. She was also an active participant at the Native Plant Center at SUNY Westchester Community College.

Cynthia was predeceased by her husband of almost 39 years, William E. Sammis Jr. and her second cousin, Richard Hawkins. She is survived by her second cousin Barry Hawkins of Norristown, NJ and six nieces and nephews and their families: Susan S. Spiess of Amherst NH, H. Clay Sammis of Andover MA, Elizabeth S. Roberts of Rocky Face GA, M. Victoria Corwin of Royal Oak MI, G. Stanley Corwin of Lakewood OH, and Catherine C. Lewis of Fairview Park OH.

The family is extremely grateful to the love and support of Marites Dua and Rosa Llamoca, who cared for Cynthia over the past two years, and to the staff at Kendal on Hudson. They brought joy and comfort to her for 17 years.

A celebration of Cynthia’s life will take place in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations made in Cynthia’s name to the Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College https://www.sunywcc.edu/about/npc/donate/

or to

Kendal on Hudson Staff Appreciation Fund kohud.kendal.org/about/giving

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