Cynthia
Copello Dudley Case passed away on February 19, 2025, at the age of
73 at her winter home in Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic. Born in 1951
in Washington, D.C., to Robert W. Dudley and Argentina Copello
Dudley, she was the third of six children. She attended the National
Cathedral School in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Chatham
Hall, a boarding school in Virginia. Cynthia completed her
undergraduate degree at Tufts University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa
in 1978. She went on to enjoy her time working at Design Research in
Cambridge, Mass., but spent most of her career in electronic banking.
She spent many years working for Automatic Data Processing (ADP),
rising to the position of one of the first female VPs before starting
her own consulting business with her business partner and longtime
friend, Jean Woodworth Sorem.
Cynthia
— Cindy, to some — was a generous spirit who loved to hear
people’s life stories, even after only knowing them for a few
hours. She delighted in making sure that everyone felt seen and
valued, recognizing their strengths and potential. Always excited to
identify opportunities to provide people with encouragement and
support, she looked to see where she could make a difference.
After
losing her own mother to cancer, Cynthia became even closer to her
aunt Margarita and her Dominican family, ultimately buying an
apartment there and spending winters in paradise, as she called it.
She had a great love of milk chocolate, a superb head for business
and a big heart. After the passing of her friend Minnie Waddell, she
quietly founded the nonprofit Minnie’s Helping Hand, which is
dedicated to supporting organizations that improve the lives of kids
with autism. Cynthia also enjoyed spending time with friends, playing
merciless backgammon, envisioning and bringing to fruition various
renovation projects, reading on the porch, helping those in her
orbit, and watching hummingbirds in her backyard.
Cynthia
loved her family and friends deeply, as they did her. She leaves
behind her loving husband of almost 37 years, David W. Case, of
Grantham, N.H.; her beloved daughter, Jen Dudley-Gaillard, and
son-in-love, Rob Ricketson; and treasured granddaughter, Rosa
Ricketson, of West Bolton, Vt.; as well as numerous cherished family
and friends throughout the world. A celebration of life will be held
in November in the Dominican Republic. In lieu of flowers, please
make a donation to the nonprofit Minnie’s Helping Hand, PO Box
1075, Grantham, NH 03753.