Cynthia Blackstone Messer

1963 - 2022

Our beloved wife, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend, Cynthia Blackstone Messer, unexpectedly passed away on November 25, 2022, at her home in Sunland, CA. She was 59 years old. Cynthia Caswell Blackstone was born in Harlingen, Texas on July 10, 1963, the second child, eldest daughter, of Harry Blackstone Jr. and Almeda Hornaday Blackstone. After the untimely death of her mother early in her life, Cynthia and her elder brother, Harry Blackstone III (HB), spent their childhood with their maternal grandparents. The time with her grandmother codified Cynthia's sense of "how things were to be done". Her father remarried, the family made a new home in Los Angeles, and then in Redlands California, and three more Blackstone sisters followed Cynthia (Cissy) into the world. The early-in-life losses of her mother, followed by her elder brother HB in 1984, were pivotal events for Cynthia. Her response was to keep her sisters close and yet open her family circle wider to include her friends. Cynthia is survived by her husband, Joe Messer; her sisters Adrienne Blackstone, Tracey Crosby, and Bellamie Blackstone Pritchett; their children, TylerAnne Crosby, Madison Crosby, Jillian Crosby, Harry Blackstone, Isabella Blackstone, Lilette Pritchett, her stepmother Gay Blackstone, and an eclectic circle of friends across the continents. She was just a teenager when she began touring as part of the stage crew with her father's internationally known magic show. Cynthia has a wonderful world-wide professional reputation. She graduated from CalArts in 1986 with a master's degree in Stage Management creating the template for future students. With that degree in hand and her father's training in her back pocket, Cynthia forged her own career path; first in technical roles, then transitioning into team leadership positions. Cynthia project managed award-winning live events, shows, museum exhibits, and theme park attractions all over the world, including the UK, Spain, China, Thailand, and Japan. In a career that spans over 30 years, Cynthia produced for Six Flags, Universal Studios, Disney, Warner Brothers and so many moreworld class work, for world class companies. Cynthia and Joe were prefect for each other, they had a truly deep connection in love and friendship. The bond they created was a true partnership on both a professional and personal level, one that guaranteed success to the projects they produced and also to their lives. Traveling the world together, both for work and for adventure, they created a beautiful life together bringing out the best in each other like no one else could. All the while still finding the balance and time to share with their friends and family. The home Cynthia and Joe created was filled with friends, family, plants, games to play, great conversation, mementos of their travels, and dog hair. Yes, as fiercely as she loved her family and friends, Cynthia's affection for her dogs was equally as strong. The Blackstone/Messer house has more beds for dogs than it does for people. Over the years all the dogs enjoyed a very good life because if you were loved by Cynthia, it was an "all in, no halfway measures" kind of commitment. She gave that commitment, and she expected it in return. The dogs never failed in their end of the bargain. Cynthia was complex. A theatrical producer who's afraid to be in the catwalks. A project manager enforcing delivery dates who can't get out of the house on time. There are so many stories to tell of the blue highway road trips, camping in weather, hundreds of spread sheets and schedules, opening days, dogs on the beach, and, of course, Cynthia's love of the Grateful Dead. This all adds up to a life fully embraced, well lived, well-loved and loving. Cynthia was a force of nature - smart, passionate, stubborn, generous, reliable, loyal, determined, and fierce - wrapped up in a tender soul and tempered by a nurturing nature. We will carry her in our hearts now and always. A life celebration is planned for the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to your favorite charity in Cynthia's name. If you have a memory to share with the family please send it to ccbstories@gmail.com so it can be included in the celebration.