Cynthia Johnston Eaton

Cynthia (Cogswell) Johnston Eaton
Cynthia (Cogswell) Johnston Eaton was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Recently, she added great-grandmother to that list. Cynthia passed away on February 7th, 2021 at the age of 90 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Although her last years were dominated by the difficult realities of advanced age, Cynthia always kept her positive outlook and was sustained by an endless interest in her many friends and enthusiasm for her extended family.
Cynthia was born to William and Estelle Cogswell in New York City on April 30th, 1930. She was a proud New Yorker for most of her life, as well as a life-long summer resident of Southampton. After graduating from the Chapin School, she married investment manager George Sim Johnston, Jr. when she was 20 years old, just as George was being called to serve in the Korean War. In her early married life, on top of starting a family, Cynthia became a successful fashion model and was featured in many prominent magazines. After raising four boys, she decided she wanted to give something back. In her 40s, she received a Masters Degree from Fordham University in psychology and social work. She was proud of the subsequent time she spent with Wildcat, an organization that counseled underprivileged and incarcerated women. Cynthia also served on the boards of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the New York Orthopedic Hospital and the Southampton Hospital.
Cynthia lost George shortly after their 40th wedding anniversary. In the last chapter of her life, Frederick Eaton became her constant and steadfast companion, and they were married from 2005 until his death in 2019. She is survived by her four sons, Sim, Bill, Scott and Bart as well as twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Cynthia moved to the Palm Beach area in 2010. Locally, she was a member of the Bath & Tennis Club.
Plans will be made for a memorial service in Southampton, New York this summer.