Cynthia Ferguson Campbell

Cynthia Ferguson Campbell, known most affectionately as Cyn, Mom, Mrs. Campbell and Nana, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2025 in New Providence, NJ. She was 89 years old.

Born in Troy, NY on February 1, 1936 to Margaret Gordon and Charles Stewart Ferguson, Cynthia was raised alongside her sister, Nancy. She graduated from the Emma Willard School in 1954 and went on to attend Wells College in Aurora, NY. It was at Wells College where she met M'Liz Campbell (Parkhurst) and Patricia Smith (Waterbury), who would become her lifelong friends.

It was Cynthia's friend and roommate M'Liz, who, in February of 1955, implored her older brother Andy - then a student at Cornell University - to take Cynthia out for her birthday, as M'Liz had to unexpectedly return home to deal with a troublesome toothache. Not wanting Cynthia's birthday to go uncelebrated, Andy obliged and brought Cynthia to Cornell, where they spent a memorable snowy evening sledding down the hills behind the library on lunch trays they had "borrowed" from the cafeteria.

Cynthia and Andy were married on May 27, 1961 and shared 46 years of marriage until his passing in 2007. Together they made their home in Hillside, New Jersey where they raised four children: Drew, Jamie, Katharine (Outcalt), and Margaret (O'Donnell).

Cynthia worked for Tek Hughes in Watervliet, NY before moving to Elizabeth, NJ, where she became an active member of the community, serving in several volunteer roles. She was a member of the Junior League of Elizabeth, NJ; member and past president of the Elizabeth Garden Club; and member and past president of the Pingry Parents Association. She was a parishioner of St. John's Episcopal Church, serving as its warden for over two decades. But, perhaps Cynthia's most crowning achievement was in helping to establish the Jefferson Park Day Care Center of Elizabeth, NJ in 1969, a non-profit organization to provide quality day care for children of working parents. Jefferson Park Day Care Center still serves the community today.

Those that knew Cynthia will remember her congenial spirit and her lighthearted laugh. Her most cherished time was spent in Bay Head, NJ, summering alongside dear friends she and Andy made as members of the Bay Head Yacht Club. She dabbled in painting, excelled in needlepoint, knitting and paper macheing countless school projects, and she is best known for her ability to savor every last edible morsel of a lobster.

Cynthia is survived by her four children - Andrew Campbell (Julie), James Campbell (Sarah), Katharine Outcalt (David) and Margaret O'Donnell (Matt); her sister Nancy Chapman; numerous nieces and nephews; and eleven grandchildren who brought her endless joy - Walker, Meg, Andrew, Lachlan, Anna, Molly, Evie, Ashley, Kate, Grayson and Sadie.

A memorial service will be held at All Saints Episcopal Church, 500 Lake Avenue, Bay Head, New Jersey, 08742 on Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Cynthia's name to All Saints Episcopal Church, Jefferson Park Preschool (jeffersonparkpreschool.org) or Trinitas Regional Medical Center.

Arrangements are in the care of Leonard Lee Funeral Home, 301 E. Blanke Street, Linden, NJ 07036, (908) 486-4993.