Cynthia Devore Rossetti

September 2, 1951 - May 15, 2023

Parade Rest

Port Deposit, MD

Cynthia was born on a U.S. military base in Heidelberg, Germany, and came to the U.S. three months later. She grew up on posts up and down the East Coast, before her father retired and the family settled in Cecil County, MD in 1962.

She attended Bainbridge Elementary, Perryville Middle School and West Nottingham Academy, completed her undergraduate degree in Geology at Vassar and her Master’s in Paleontology at the University of Michigan.

Cynthia worked as a petroleum geologist, based in Houston, TX, and travelled all over the world, including some nearby field office assignments in Lake Charles & Lafayette, LA. In the early 1970’s, she was one of the first women geologists to work offshore in the Gulf of Mexico and went on to become a “proven oil and gas finder” once she transitioned from wellsite work to exploration.

Cynthia retired early and relocated back to her family home and farm in Port Deposit in 1995. After lending her geological expertise to several local boards, commissions, and organizations, she retired for good in 2015 and has spent her time creating a perennial “naturalistic” garden, learning to treat her farm as an ecosystem, and buying local!

Cynthia is a member of the Philadelphia Rhododendron Society and the Winterthur Garden and Landscape Society, both of which have provided her with inspiration and so many of her perennial plants. The garden at Parade Rest now has amazing colours in all seasons of the year and always has something for the pollinators.

Cynthia was pre-deceased by her parents, Leland Swarts Devore Jr. and Helen Ramsay Matthews. She is survived by a multitude of cousins, her husband, Rupert Rossetti, and his extended family.

There will not be an immediate service. A celebration of Cynthia’s life will be held at a future date.

In lieu of flowers or donations, please plant a native tree or shrub, or add some pollinator-friendly perennials to your garden.

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Parade Rest Port Deposit, MD Cynthia was born on a U.S. military base in Heidelberg, Germany, and came to the U.S. three months later. She grew up on posts up and down the East Coast, before her father retired and the family settled in Cecil County, MD in 1962. She attended Bainbridge Elementary, Perryville MiddleContinue Reading

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I was most fortunate to have known Cynthia. She taught me such a spectrum of knowledge; things I apply almost daily. She and Rupert trusted me to care for their precious animals and their homestead; I learned a lot there, too. One can read in books, but nothing really prepares you how to react when a gander and three geese chase you in the winter time in the dark because you haven't addressed their watering holes before daybreak in February. I wouldn't take a thing back. I was young, silly and green when we met, but she treated me with such respect and kindness. I'm grateful for everything she taught me, and that she considered me a friend

I worked with Cynthia in the Lake Charles Conoco office and off shore on a few drilling rigs. One of my best memories is of a Friday evening we spent at a nice restaurant in LC over a good dinner and wine sharing our experiences as some of the first professional women working offshore. My deepest condolences to Cynthia’s family.

Cynthia was such a lovely lady… I really enjoyed every time I met her. She was smart and kind and wise and funny… She will be missed by all who knew her. Rupert - I am praying for you… ??????

Rupert, So sorry for your loss. I always enjoyed visiting with Cynthia at FHI events. She was a lovely lady. Ginny

Heartfelt condolences to you and your family, Rupert, on Cynthia's passing ... In my travels through some of the drier pathways at Fair Hill, along Big Elk Creek south of Scotts Mill, I've spied the dandelion-like Two-flowered Cynthia [krigia biflora] ... now, I will always think of your Cynthia when I see this cheerful sunny flower adding an amber sprinkling of colour to the less-traveled trails. "There is no Death. What seems so is transition. This life of mortal breath is but a suburb of the life elysian ..." H.W. Longfellow

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

Sanctum by Beulah B. Malkin I built a tiny garden In a corner of my heart I kept it just for lovely things And bade all else depart And ever was there music And flowers blossomed fair; And never was it perfect Until you entered there

Rupert, I was so sorry to here of Cynthia's passing. I never met her but her life sounds like it was both meaningful and joyful. I happened to see this in my travels today and thought of you: Death Is Nothing At All - By Henry Scott-Holland Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!

I am so sorry, for all of us. Cynthia was such a positive force in this universe, it’s nearly impossible to imagine a world without her in it.

Rupert, I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Thinking of you during this difficult time.

Rupert: Sorry to hear. Thinking of you at this sad time. Scott Flanigan

Rupert, The Board of Supervisors and Staff would like to send our deepest sympathies to you and your family at this very difficult time. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.

I am sadden to hear of Cynthia's passing. I'm fortunate to have known her and her parents. I met Cynthia when we were children riding horses at Golden Vein Farms with her mother bravely following along. And then I had the honor of taking Cynthia's seat on the Bainbridge Corporation Development board. The world was truly a better place with Cynthia.

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.