Cyril George Ostendorf

Tribute to Cyril Ostendorf - A Giant in our Eyes

Cyril George Ostendorf, born February 5, 1941, in St. Louis, MO, passed away at his home in Fredericksburg, VA, on July 22, 2025, preceded in death by Camille, his beloved wife of over 60 years. He was the son of Leonard and Aileen Ostendorf and is survived by his sons Greg and Paul (Lisa), six grandchildren-Christopher, Blaire (Tyler), Lauren, Ashley, Jared (Rachel), and Kayla-and one great-grandchild, Paisley.

Cyril was a kind, generous, gentle giant who lived "by the book" and embodied the values of a true "Boy Scout." Guided by an unwavering moral and ethical compass, he earned the respect of family, colleagues, and friends alike by always striving to do the right thing.

A pioneer in the emerging IT industry, Cyril held leadership roles at McDonnell Douglas, Kellwood, IBM, and Exxon. He played a pivotal role in the evolution from punch-card processing and mainframes to modern IT infrastructure. Known not only for his intellect but also for his people-first leadership style, he was ahead of his time in promoting women into technical positions.

He never shied away from a challenge. If he could learn it from a book, he would master it... whether tying flies for fly fishing, sketching, repairing cars, building and flying RC planes, or coaching soccer, a sport he had never played himself.

In retirement, Cyril poured his talents into the community: singing in the church and local community college choirs (including a performance at Carnegie Hall), mentoring college students on resumes and careers, and designing sets for the college Fine Arts Program. He also became a beloved storyteller among his coffee shop friends at "the office."

Although his sons never used the phrase "My Old Man" to describe their father, Zac Brown Band penned a song, My Old Man, that captures the memories of their father.

With a tender heart and a generous soul, Cyril's greatest devotion was to his family. His love story with Camille was a priceless romance that spanned more than six decades. Now, he is reunited with "his Dove" in Heaven. His life was a quiet blueprint for integrity, curiosity, and love-a legacy we will carry forward in how we live, how we learn, and how we love each other.

A Celebration of Life will be held in St. Louis, MO, in the fall of 2025.