Cynthia Stone Ely's Obituary
Friends, family, and even acquaintances remember Cynthia Ely for her curiosity, style, and pizzazz-infused embrace of life. Hailing from a distinguished background, Cynthia was anything but stuffy -- she fully transcended her proper origins with a sense of adventure and joie de vivre.
Cynthia Stone Ely was born in Cambridge, MA to Professor Marshall H. Stone and Emmy P. Stone. Her father was a world traveler and professor of mathematics at Harvard University and other eminent institutions who received the National Medal of Science from the Reagan Administration. Cynthia's mother Emmy Portman Stone was a lifelong artist. Cynthia's paternal grandfather, Harlan Fiske Stone, was named Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by President F.D. Roosevelt, a connection that gave Cynthia pride throughout her life.
Cynthia attended the University of Chicago for the last two years of high school, haunting California's jazz and blues clubs as a teenager and developing a lifelong love of music. A fun-loving student who made her way around the social scene as well as academia, she received a B.A. in Fine Arts from Radcliffe College. She worked in Washington DC for three years at the CIA and married Foreign Service Officer M.E.C. Ely, eventually serving in Malaysia, Paris, Washington DC, Algeria, Somalia, Canada, Paris (again) and Rome. The Paris stints featured opera, fashion, people-watching, and sightings of glitterati like Francis Bacon and Rudolf Nureyev. During her stay in Rome, Cynthia reveled in classical antiquity, the city's soulful atmosphere, and of course delectable Italian food. She retained a love of travel beyond the Foreign Service, visiting friends and exploring new destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and the US.
After divorce, Cynthia testified before a Congressional committee to achieve fair compensation for Foreign Service spouses and dependents. She spent over 20 years as the Events Coordinator at the Smithsonian Institution's Wilson Center for International Scholars, organizing conferences, dinners, concerts and special events. Cynthia worked to welcome and integrate fellows and academics, international business and political leaders, journalists, US presidents, and cultural figures.
A Georgetown resident, Cynthia stayed plugged into cultural and political life in Washington and volunteered for a number of nonprofit organizations. Her home was a gracious, charmingly-appointed center of legendary yet intimate parties, eagerly attended by friends of all ages. One evening an irate lodger burst forth from Cynthia's basement, shouting in rage at Cynthia and her friends for laughing too long and too loudly over cocktails -- of course for Cynthia the only reasonable reaction was to laugh some more.
After her move to California in 2019, Cynthia lived at the Lake Merritt residences in Oakland and Albany's Belmont Village. She enjoyed exploring local museums (especially the Rosicrucian Museum in San Jose), performances, architecture and restaurants. In particular she sought out the weekly concerts on the Berkeley campus, world cuisine from local restaurants, and nearby gardens and natural areas.
Cynthia is survived by daughter Caroline of New York; daughter Lydia of San Francisco (Roderic); grandchildren Julia, Mimi, and Teo; one loving niece and four loving nephews and their partners. She was predeceased by son Douglas and grandson Alexander. Her wide circle will miss Cynthia's warmth, high standards, and spirited flair.
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