The Passing of Cyndi Cole

Dear CPA members,

I am saddened to inform you that Cindy Cole passed away on January 1, 2008.
Cindy Cole was a sea kayaker extraodinaire. She and her husband, Charile Cole were instrumental in introducing many people to sea kayaking in the Maryland, Delaware, mid-Atlantic region, and in introducing sea kayakers to Greenland paddling. The Coles organized the first Delmarva Paddler's Retreat (this coming DPR will be the 20th). Cindy was a board member of Qajaq USA. She performed an amazing sequence of rolls set to music at a Delmarva Paddlers Retreat and inspired other paddlers to perform kayak dressage at subsequent retreats. They owned Millpond Paddlers, a sea kayak outfitting store, in Ocean View, Delaware. They particpated in CPA's paddle fests.

Cindy Cole and Greg Stamer were the first two USA citizens to compete in the Greenland National Sea Kayaking Championships in 2000. Greg Stamer wrote an article for Sea Kayaker regarding their experience, February 2001 (Issue 80, page 34). Cindy wrote an article, "The Throwing Stick Roll" in the February 1997 issue of Sea Kayaker magazine (Issue 56, page 36).

Sincerely,
Jenny Plummer-Welker