Obituary of Lucinda S. Olmstead

LUCINDA S. OLMSTEAD LOUDONVILLE - Lucinda "Cindy" Sue Olmstead, age 80, passed away on February 14, 2022 at St. Peter's hospital with her daughters by her side. She was born on July 1, 1941 in Gloversville, NY to the late Albert and Lois (Harding) Pellegrino. Lucinda attended Barrington/Gordon College graduating in 1963 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in English. She returned to her hometown to teach English at Estee Junior High School and was later elected to the Gloversville Board of Education. She earned her Masters of Arts Degree from SUNY Albany and taught English in many schools in the Capital region throughout her career, most recently retiring from teaching English courses at Bryant & Stratton College (15 years) in Albany, NY. She is also a member of the National Council of Teachers of English. In addition to her teaching career, Lucinda was a local musician, actress, and entertainer. She was a gifted and talented piano player at a very young age. She played piano and sang many show tunes as "Cindy Marcus" at the former Deanie's Restaurant in Woodstock, NY for many years in the 1970's and at Dick and Peg's Northward Inn in the 1980's. She starred in many community theater productions in the Kingston area and acted in summer stock productions at the Woodstock Playhouse with Equity actors. One of her favorite productions was playing Marian Paroo in The Music Man with daughter Kim as Winthrop Paroo. She loved sharing her love of Broadway Shows with her sister, daughters, grandchildren and nephews. Lucinda also hosted a children's story program for WDST Woodstock when it premiered as a multi-format station. She was well known for reading Charlie and the Chocolate factory with different voices for each character. Lucinda published a children's book for her grandchildren, "But Not On My Ice Cream, Please", and was a finalist in the New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest. She also had several poems and short stories published in various literary reviews in addition to writing for area newspapers. Lucinda loved going to Ogunquit, Maine with her family. She enjoyed many trips with her late husband and family. Lucinda is famous for her Italian Ricotta Cookies and Sugar Cookies. Lucinda loved shopping and finding the perfect gift for everyone. She was very generous to all. She loved fashion, and shopping, with her doctors calling her "fashion plate". Lucinda loved spoiling her grandchildren and making them laugh. They meant the world to her. Lucinda is survived by her loving children Kimberly (Ted) Woloszyn, Kelly (Jeff) Masline, and her 3 grandchildren Daniel, Emily and Allison. She is also survived by her four brothers Marc Pellegrino, David (Julia) Pellegrino, Stephen Pellegrino and Karl Pellegrino, brother-in-law Jon Thompson, sister-in-law Linda (William) Parker, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews. Her faithful cat Sammy was by her side through her final days. Along with her parents, Lucinda is predeceased by her beloved husband of 54 years, Robert Olmstead and sister Sharron (Pellegrino) Thompson. Lucinda's family would like to thank the staff at Albany Med, St. Peter's, and NYOH for their compassionate care. Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Monday, February 21st, 2022 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at Dufresne & Cavanaugh Funeral Home, 149 Old Loudon Rd., Latham. Private interment beside her late husband will take place at Saratoga National Cemetery at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society at https://mohawkhumane.org/donate or mailed to 3 Oakland Avenue, Menands, NY 12204. For directions, information, to light a memory candle or order flowers for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com.