Obituary of Cynthia N. Beckles

Cynthia Nesbitt Beckles was born at home in New York, NY on September 2, 1928, to Columbus T. Nesbitt and Rosa (Gravitt) Nesbitt. She died at home in Goshen, NY on August 5, 2024, at age 95. She was predeceased by her siblings Robert Nesbitt (Enid),Clarence Nesbitt (Juanita), Joan Padget Miles(John), and Calvin Nesbitt. Our family was blessed with a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt of beauty, style, a quick wit, and an amazing ability to share the sunny side of life, no matter the circumstances. We learned from her that all people are God's and that we are at our best when we help each other. Growing up, we saw our mother feed friends and strangers. She gave freely from whatever her resources were. Mom introduced us to the ballet and the theater, how to fold a formal dinner napkin, and how to entertain. We learned to celebrate the little things. We traveled and we learned to love art and books and music and sports, especially her beloved New York Football Giants. We inherited her gift of gab. There were many firsts for Cynthia - graduating from Jamaica High School with a degree in secretarial science and going to work for the American Baptist Convention in 1947. She went on to work for the National Board of the YMCA, where, as secretary to the director, she coordinated international travel groups. From there, she went on to People's Travel Service, the corporate arm of Nationwide Insurance, where she became a licensed travel agent and became the manager of the New York City office. In 1971 she was hired by Con Edison of New York, to be the executive secretary to the director of a brand new department -- Scientific and Engineering Systems, which grew eventually to a staff of 65 computer programmers. In 1984, having moved to Orange County in the 1970s, she went to work for the Orange County Rural Development Advisory Corporation. Cynthia finished her working career as the Office Manager for the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council of Orange County in 1993. In retirement, Cynthia volunteered with the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program, serving on their advisory council as a tax aide, and happily planning their yearly awards ceremonies. Cynthia leaves to mourn and celebrate her life her daughters, The Rev. Patt Kauffman (William) and Meredith J. English (Cicero), and former son-in-law Ira Margolis; her granddaughters Cynthia Ramirez (Marco), Emily Bryant (Katie), Jessica Van Herwynen (David-Michael), Kate English, Jennifer Mishler (Corey), her great grandchildren, Maya, Benjamin, Rebecca, Alexander, Brian, her eldest sister, Viola Straker, aged 104, her cherished nieces and nephews, and her many friends. She is the widow of Joseph N. Beckles, who passed away in 1977. Cynthia's life will be celebrated at King of Kings Lutheran Church, the Reverend Dr. Mary Lou Baumgartner presiding. The church is located at 543 Union Avenue, New Windsor, NY and the service held at 11am on Saturday, August 10, with lunch immediately after. Donations in Cynthia's memory may be made to Hospice Care of Orange and Sullivan Counties or to King of Kings Lutheran Church.