Posted on 08/15/2018
Cynthia Marie (Brigandi) Amerine, passed away peacefully early Saturday morning, August 11, 2018, at her home.
Cindy, as she was known by her family and friends, was born on January 10, 1947, in Syracuse, NY, she was the daughter of Joseph and Gertrude (Schlosser) Brigandi, Her father was a career Army and assigned to Syracuse University to obtain his Masters in finance. As an Army brat, Cindy lived places as varied as Germany, Panama, Texas, and Indiana as well as suburbs of Washington D.C.. This nomadic existence prepared her for her life after she married Dave Amerine, her husband of 50 years, who she met in Sausalito, CA when she was in college and he was in the Navy's nuclear power school after graduating from the Naval Academy. So Cindy went from being an Army brat to a Navy wife and then a corporate wife in support of Dave's career in the nuclear industry. Over the course of their marriage Dave and Cindy had seventeen homes and Cindy considered each one a canvas to which she could apply her considerable decorating talents (at one point she had her own interior decorating business).
The Amerines have two daughters, Erin Fetzer, born in Norfolk, VA (and her husband, Michael) and Alyssa Pazdan, born in Richland, WA (and her husband, David); they also have five grandchildren, Camryn, Carson, Cade, Lucciana and Francesca.
In addition to interior decorating, Cindy was a considerable athlete playing tennis and soccer as an adult as well as dance. When the Amerines were stationed in Charleston, SC, Cindy performed in the Charleston Modern ballett. However, volunteering to help in Baton Rougue, LA after the Katrina hurricane led to an avocation of Red Cross volunteering. She founded two women's clubs, one in South Carolina and one in Ohio for the purpose of raising money for the Red Cross. Those organizations raised significant funds and in 2015 Cindy was awarded the Red Cross' highest volunteer award, the Clare Barton Award. Cindy also volunteered at Helping Hands and was on the Heart Board in Aiken, SC, where the Amerines lived off and on for over twenty years.
The Amerines decided to retire to their summer home on Catawba Island in 2011. In November 2014 Cindy was diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gherig's disease. True to her nature, she turned her talent to helping inspire other ALS victims, families, care givers, and researchers by writing a song, ALS Odyssey Anthem. The song was adopted by the ALS Association as their unofficial anthem and has touched people all over the world.
It was Cindy's wishes to be cremated. Her family will receive friends on Saturday morning, September 15, 2018, from 9 am until time of the memorial service at 10:30 am, at Grace Episcopal Church, 315 Wayne Street, Sandusky, OH. Rev. Jan Smith Wood officiating. A private family committal service will be held later in Catawba Island Cemetery, Catawba Island, OH.
Arrangements are entrusted to the David F. Koch Funeral and Cremation Services, 520 Columbus Avenue, Sandusky.
Your memories and words of comfort may be shared with Cindy's family at davidfkoch.com.
Published in the News Herald on Aug. 15, 2018