By Tracy Gary, A WDN Co-Founder & Member

A founding member of WDN in 1989, Cindy Ewing passed away on September 17, 2024, surrounded by one of her caregivers and a close friend. She was 83 years old. Cindy was a force and will be remembered for her loyal and generous spirit and dedication to others. She was a deeply caring and artistic individual, who cherished her independence and approached life with a calm, attentive presence. A passionate world traveler, Cindy drew inspiration from the adventures of her grandparents and followed in their footsteps, exploring the globe with curiosity and joy.

Cindy played a pivotal role in the founding of Women Donors Network (WDN), which she helped create alongside Tracy Gary, Marta Drury, and other dedicated board members and volunteers. Initially called Managing Inherited Wealth, the organization evolved into Resourceful Women (and later WDN), reaching over 1,000 women of inherited and earned wealth, as well as their families and advisors. Together, they expanded the network into cities such as Washington D.C., New York, Denver, Los Angeles, and Santa Fe. The first gathering of WDN was held in 1989, and Cindy, alongside Tracy and Marta, was a central figure before the organization grew and hired staff. She warmly welcomed new members, ensuring everyone felt at home in the growing community.

Cindy’s passion for social justice extended beyond WDN. She gave to the Global Fund for Women, co-founded a retreat center for women in the Philippines, and supported the Tewa Women’s Foundation in Nepal. Cindy was also an active board member and steward of Judy Chicago’s work, a supporter of Indigenous women’s art in New Mexico, and a donor to the Women’s Fund of New Mexico and the Women’s Foundation of California.

With gratitude to Margaret Schink and other donors, she traveled with the Global Fund for Women to countries such as the Philippines, Thailand, and Nepal to understand and combat the impacts of sex trafficking and child prostitution. She also traveled to Europe and West Germany to study their roles in these issues. Cindy was especially passionate about global activism and attended numerous conferences. She later joined Marta Drury’s Hearts and Hands Fund to support women in the Balkans.

Cindy’s love for exploration was also deeply personal, as she retraced her grandparents’ journeys, photographing the same places they had visited generations before. Her affinity for travel eventually led her to split her time between Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Manila, Philippines, where she lived part-time with her partner, Luchi Pavia Ticzon, until Luchi’s passing in 2022. In her later years, Cindy resided at The Montecito in Santa Fe, a senior living community where she received compassionate care for her Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Cindy Ewing’s life was a testament to generosity, creativity, and the power of community. She inspired many with her passion for social justice and her deep connections with those around her.

Tracy Gary, a friend of Cindy and a WDN founding member, is organizing a virtual memorial service in her honor in October.