Cynthia Steiner

Cynthia Steiner, 81, died December 28, 2024, in McMinnville, Oregon, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
The daughter of Virginia and Joe L. Brown, she was born March 7, 1943, in Los Angeles, CA. Her father's career in baseball took the family from Zanesville, OH to Waco, TX to New Orleans, LA and eventually to Pittsburgh, PA, where Cynthia graduated from Mount Lebanon High School.
In 1962, after two years at Smith College, Cynthia convinced her skeptical parents to allow her to move to Florence, Italy, where she learned Italian, worked in a leather goods shop, and lived for two years. So began a love of Italian art, architecture, food, music and culture that lasted six decades – including the later launch of a travel consulting business to guide others to the artistic and culinary highlights of Tuscany.
After returning to the US, Cynthia worked in promotions for Columbia Pictures – first in New York and later in San Francisco. These roles were among the many fueled by her love of film and storytelling.
In 1969, she met and married Ron Steiner. They welcomed children in 1970 and 1972. Ron and Cynthia made dear friends with whom they'd tailgate at Steelers games, take the kids to Pirate games, vacation at the Delaware beach and go sledding in the winters. When the Pirates won the World Series in 1979, all of Pittsburgh sang a song that harmonized well with their life in that era: "We Are Family."
In 1980, the family moved to Albuquerque, NM, where Cynthia devoted herself to parenting and the attendance of thousands of youth baseball, softball, volleyball and basketball practices and games. After serving ably in various volunteer roles at her children's school, she was appointed President of the Albuquerque Academy Parents Association. Her strategic mind, commitment to inclusion, support of teachers, and irrepressible good humor made her a valuable teammate. She served as a trustee of Albuquerque Academy for fifteen years, including two as chair of the board.
A passionate and discerning reader and recommender of fiction, Cynthia was one of the Albuquerque Public Library's most active borrowers for more than 40 years. She served as a long-time newspaper reader for New Mexico NewsLine for the Blind. Later, as a staff member at Aardvark Audiobooks, she combined work with her favorite mode of play: having enthusiastic conversations about authors, movies, music, sports, and politics.
In declining health, Cynthia moved close to the farm and family of her daughter in Oregon's Willamette Valley. At Hillside Senior Community – as in every community in which she lived – she was appreciated for her quick wit, curious intellect, and positive spirit.
Cynthia was predeceased by her brother Don (Ty) Brown (Ruther Glen, VA) and former husband Ron Steiner (Salem, OR). She is survived by her son Michael Ulku-Steiner and his wife Beril and grandchildren Kenan and Lucy (Chapel Hill, North Carolina); by her daughter Amy Halloran-Steiner and her husband Silas, and grandchildren Ukiah and Metolius (McMinnville, Oregon).
A private family ceremony was held in McMinnville. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Cynthia's name to the Roadrunner Food Bank in Albuquerque (www.rrfb.org).