Cynthia Dunlap

CYNTHIA COWAN DUNLAP

ORONO.

Cynthia C. Dunlap, 93, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, died January 28, 2025. She was born March 15, 1931, in Portland, Maine, daughter of Frank I. and Helen A. (Caspar) Cowan.

Cynthia graduated from Deering High School in Portland, Maine in 1949, actively involved in a number of organizations. Most important to her was the Deering High School Ski Club for which she was a director, and a member of the club's first girl's ski team, skiing and training at Dyke Mountain Farm in Baldwin. She graduated from the University of Maine in Orono in 1953 with Bachelors and (nearly completed) Masters degrees in Zoology. She was an active member of the University of Maine Outing Club, passionate about hiking and climbing trips to Katahdin. Following graduation, she married Dr. Robert D. Dunlap and settled in Orono to raise a family.

Cindy was a Girl Scout leader for a number of years and enjoyed volunteering at the Asa C. Adams School library. In the 1960's she gave ski lessons to many local children on the Asa Adams School hill, as part of the annual winter recreational activities organized by the town of Orono over school vacation. She was a member of AAUW and took an active role in organizing the annual AAUW used book sale held at the Church of Universal fellowship. She was a member of a women's investment group and participated in book clubs. She especially enjoyed singing with the Oratorio Society under the leadership of Ludlow Hallman, and attending concerts at the University of Maine with her family.

Cindy passed on her passion for skiing to her children, teaching them to safely ride the rope tow at Bald Mt. in Dedham, and how to control their speed with the Stem Christie. She was an active member of the Penobscot Valley Ski Club, especially in her role as membership chair, working at the finish line at ski races throughout the state, informing families about the club's ski programs and activities, and participating in club ski trips to Quebec. She was actively involved with the Green Lake Association, assisting husband Bob with collecting water quality data, and learning about and promoting Lake Smart practices and aquatic plant identification.

Cynthia was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Robert D. Dunlap; and by brothers, Caspar F. Cowan, of Portland, ME, Frederick C. Cowan of Canaan, VT, and Douglas R. Cowan of Edgecomb, ME. She is survived by her daughter, Constance (Dunlap) Barnes of Ellsworth, ME, sons, David H. Dunlap and wife, Jean, of Albuquerque, NM, Stephen C. Dunlap and wife, April, of Orchard Park, NY, five much-loved grandchildren, Kyle Barnes, Matthew Dunlap (and his wife Yanbo Ge), Megan Dunlap, Heather Dunlap, and Carissa Dunlap, and a great-granddaughter, Kina Dunlap. She is also survived by her close friend and sister-in-law, Norma Cowan, of Belfast, ME, sister and brothers-in-law Marion Baldauf, Fred Dunlap, and Chuck Dunlap, all of New York, and many nieces, nephews, and their families.

Relatives and friends are welcome to join the family for a funeral service at the Church of Universal Fellowship in Orono on March 1 at 1:30 pm, followed by conversation and refreshments. Interment will be at a later date in the spring at the Riverside Cemetery in Orono.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Cynthia's name to the Penobscot Valley Ski Club, PO Box 873, Bangor, Maine 04402, or to the Green Lake Association, 803 Green Lake Road, Dedham, Maine 04429.