July 18, 2026. Born at Genesee Hospital in Rochester,  Cynthia died quietly, on July 18 at home, surrounded by her loving family, after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.  

The eldest of three children, Cynthia was predeceased by her parents, Jay W. and Lillian C. (Von Buren) Howk;  her grandparents, Judson and Daisy (Owen) Howk, Frank and Lillian (Herr) Von Buren Jr.;  her  aunts and uncles, Wilton (Dorothy) and Franklyn (Shirley) Von Buren, Owen (Evelyn) and Stuart (Betsy) Howk, Genevieve and Olive Howk.    She is survived by her brother Neil (Susan Larsen) Howk of Bayfield WI, sister Heather Howk (Fred) King of Rochester, NY, niece Sophia Howk of Driggs, ID, and nephew Forrest (Samantha) Howk and their son, Nico of Madison, WI, with numerous cousins, including Beatrice (Michael) Horn of Riverton, NJ, and the Fluri-Mittelholzer family in Switzerland, as well as many friends,  colleagues, and her beloved Sealyham terrier, Danny.

A life-long Rochester resident, Cynthia was passionate about her city’s social, cultural, and architectural history.   That interest began during childhood, when stories told by her Grandmother Von Buren, who lived with the family, provided tales about life during the late 19th century, fascinating descriptions of a vanished era.  Earlier generations were frequent topics of discussion amongst family members.  This included stories about the Howk family’s activities in Ontario, Wayne County, where they operated the community’s hardware store for two generations, as well as a furniture/undertaking establishment.  Stories about the Von Buren family, who lived for 40 years on Leo Street off Joseph Avenue, centered on the mixture of German, Ukrainian, Jewish, Italian, Polish, and Syrian traditions there, that provided residents with a vibrant cultural experience.  Cynthia’s maternal grandfather, Frank Von Buren Jr., was born in Neuchatel, Switzerland and immigrated to Rochester with his parents and siblings around 1890.  A connection with her Swiss cousins has continued into the next generations, with several exchange visits between Rochester and Switzerland over the years.

Cynthia grew up on Dalkeith Road in the North Winton Village neighborhood where the Howk family lived for over 73 years.   Diane Stone, Nancy Cooper, Rebecca Keller, and Mary Partyka were among her childhood friends, all of whom attended School #52.  Neighborhood children enjoyed many adventures in nearby Tryon Park, where hiking amongst the woodlands overlooking Irondequoit Bay inspired Cynthia’s love of the outdoors.   A 1969 graduate of East High School, Cynthia’s activities included playing violin in both the school and City Inter-High Orchestras, singing in the City Inter-Junior Choir, and membership in the History Forum.  Cynthia was a graduate of the Hochstein School of Music, where she studied violin and harp. A lifetime membership in the Girl Scouts of the USA provided many exciting opportunities, including summer sessions at Camp Pinewood, a visit to Our Chalet in Switzerland, and a week-long canoe trip in the Adirondacks, her first visit to that region. She was also a counselor at Camp Beechwood in Sodus.   

 In 1973, Cynthia received her B.A. in music from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia,  with additional courses in history, art history, and biology. Highlights of those classes included a seminar at the Winterthur Museum, a behind-the-scenes tour of musical instruments at the Smithsonian, and an extended field trip to the Duke University Marine Laboratory on North Carolina’s Outer Banks.  Music activities included playing violin in the College-Community Orchestra, singing in the College Women’s Chorus, and election as a member of Mu Phi Epsilon professional music fraternity.  Upon graduation, she continued her harp studies with Jeanne Chalifoux, at the renowned Salzedo Summer Harp Colony in Camden, Maine, where a reunion of its alumni in 2024 connected her with harpists from around the world.

In 1976, Cynthia completed her studies at Nazareth College, working towards a career in music education, when an unexpected job offer came from Ann Salter, director of museums, at The Landmark Society of Western New York. Her three-month internship at the Landmark Society eventually led to a distinguished 45-year career in historic preservation planning with that organization. As that organization’s Architectural Research Coordinator, she worked with residents and communities throughout western New York, where her in-depth knowledge of architecture and history was invaluable in seeking financial and planning resources that would benefit these individuals. Working with the next generation of professionals in this field was also a top priority for Cynthia, whose mentoring continues today, through the Bero/Howk Internship, a joint project of Bero Architecture PLLC and The Landmark Society of Western New York. Long considered the “go to person” for any information about regional architecture and preservation, Cynthia’s work has been recognized by the Rochester and New York State chapters of the American Institute of Architects, as well as the New York State Office of Historic Preservation.

Although Cynthia maintained an intense professional schedule, in her “off hours,” she managed to relax with numerous hobbies, including gardening, reading, scenic drives, and needlework as well as attending theater, art galleries and museums. Her extended family was a central focus of her life, as she served as the historian for both the Howk and Von Buren families, that included the care and stewardship of many original documents.

She was a devoted attendee of classical music concerts at the Rochester Philharmonic, Eastman and Hochstein schools, Society for Chamber Music in Rochester, and Tuesday Pipes organ series, amongst other venues.  For over fifty years, she played violin in the Brighton Symphony Community Orchestra.  She was a long-time member of the local chapter of the American Harp Society, as well as the Rochester alumni chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon music fraternity, both groups providing on-going musical opportunities, as well as rewarding friendships. For thirty years, she played violin in a piano trio, as well as quartet and chamber music ensembles.  The study of pipe organ was added to her repertoire in recent years, opening another facet of music to her via our impressive local organ community. Outdoor recreation included birdwatching, canoeing, and membership in the Genesee Valley Hiking Club, where she also served as club historian. A life-long love of horses included riding instruction during her high school years. Cross-country skiing was her favorite winter activity.  The artistry of competitive figure skating, however, was the sport she enjoyed the most, a highlight of which was attending the 1978 World Figure Skating Championships in Ottawa, Canada.

A life-long learner, Cynthia especially enjoyed public television and classes offered by Oasis and the Memorial Art Gallery.  Travel was important, with visits to cousins in Switzerland, and additional tours of England, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.  A group tour of historic sites under restoration in England was a particular highlight, as was a natural history tour to Costa Rica.   Trips to the Adirondacks, western National Parks, and historic communities along the East coast were popular destinations, while many visits to family in northern Wisconsin’s Lake Superior region introduced her to the beautiful Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.  There, in 1986, she served as a volunteer Lighthouse Keeper on Outer Island, a memorable experience!

Cynthia loved animals, with parakeets, canary, guinea pigs, turtles, and goldfish as childhood pets. There followed a succession of adored canines, growing up with Miniature Poodles (Renee, Lily, Suzy), then four adopted Scottish terriers (Lindsay, Roxie, Scot, Maggie), with Sealyham terrier, Danny, surviving her.  A member of the American Sealyham Terrier Club, she frequently attended the Montgomery County Kennel Club Show near Philadelphia, the largest all-terrier show in the world. There she met fellow lovers of Scottish and Sealyham terriers and their dogs. 

Cynthia was the primary caregiver for her mother, allowing her to remain at home until her 99th year.   With careful planning, they continued to travel to make scenic drives in the Finger Lakes, to Lake George in the Adirondacks, Tanglewood/western Massachusetts, and the Montgomery County Kennel Club dog shows.  

Cynthia was cared for by her devoted family, with additional support from friends Steve Jordan, Nancy O’ Neill, Chris Brandt, Wilma Townsend, Katie Comeau, Cindy Hunt, nurse Rossana Dombeck, and aide Jayda Avery.  While her physical abilities were affected, her interest in current events, historic preservation advocacy, and the wider world never diminished.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday August 8 at 11 AM in the All-Season’s Chapel, at White Haven Memorial Park, 210 Marsh Road, in Pittsford. Immediately afterwards, guests are invited to attend a reception in the chapel’s Gathering Room.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Landmark Society of Western New York, 5 Castle Park, Rochester, NY 14620.