Cindy Lou Vezinau, age 68, passed away on December 2d, 2021 after a brief illness. She is survived by her dear partner of many years, Larry Newhouse, her brother Gerald “Jerry” Vezinau (Diane), nieces, Julie Vezinau Rumbarger, Shelly Vezinau Sadler, Rochelle Vezinau, and Suzie Vezinau Hobbs, nephew Scott Vezinau, and many, many heartbroken friends around the world. Cindy is preceded in death by her parents Charles Vezinau and Lucy Haslehun Vezinau, and brother, Fred “Freddie.”
Cindy, or Syd, as many knew her, was a longtime resident of St. Clair Shores, Michigan.
Cindy was born in a suburb of Detroit on June 24, 1953. She enjoyed summers in Rogers City and graduated from Roseville High School. Thereafter, she attended Macomb Community College. She built a career of travel, adventure and the creation of memorable experiences for friends and fellow travelers as a sales manager/specialist for Continental Airlines and Eastern Airlines. In 1996, she served as Vice President of SKAL (Michigan Chapter) and became the Business Development Manager for Delta Vacations / MLT. During this time, Cindy was also a public speaker and trainer for the industry, and served as the Founder/CEO of an eco-friendly mulching business until she retired in 2020.
Cindy’s 35-year career in travel, tourism, sales and customer service, was demonstrated by a passion for luxury, adventure, and romantic travel. She believed in excellent customer service. She had an exceptional work ethic, was goal oriented, and believed in making a difference. Cindy was also known as a community leader, serving on various projects and civic committees both in St Clair Shores and Rogers City. Through her generous spirit, creative problem solving and unflagging enthusiasm, she enriched the lives of many, often choosing to extend her help anonymously and without credit.
Cindy was the founder and President of The Purple Martin Inn for Kids, in Rogers City, Michigan. Through her vision and the assistance of many dedicated volunteers, hundreds of foster children have received summer camping experiences and personal bedding and other items to carry with them as they moved through the foster care system. Her projects included a camp for foster, at risk, and needy children, and an annual street dance benefit under the only street light in Rogers City, entitled “The Purple Martin Mania”.
Cindy designed and constructed an eco-friendly, green lodge in Rogers City, Michigan, “The Purple Martin Inn” located on the shores of Lake Huron. The Inn is an all-suite lakefront resort and nature conservancy creatively decorated and dedicated to the preservation of her feathered friends - the purple martins. The Inn was accredited by the National Wildlife Federation, listed with Michigan’s Green Lodging programs, published in the Up North Magazine, and was recently featured on the PBS program, Under the Radar. The Purple Martin Inn remains a purple martin sanctuary and a place where Cindy and Larry could meet old and new friends.
Cindy had an infectious laugh and always displayed extraordinary kindness and compassion for the less fortunate. She will be terribly missed by her many dear friends and family. Among the many things Cindy will be remembered for, is her dedication and determination to help foster children reconnect with their siblings. Behind every idea, brainstorm, event, initiative, activity, and fundraiser, remains the people she touched, and the impact she made on the travel industry, the Detroit area, the small community of Rogers City, and the children. She will be missed dearly.
Two celebrations of Cindy’s life are planned for early summer of 2022, one in Rogers City on Friday, June 24th, and the other at a location at an outdoor venue in the Detroit area. Please check the website for The Purple Martin Inn, www.thepurplemartininn.com or Cindy’s Facebook page for dates and times.
If you would like to remember Cindy with a donation in her honor to perpetuate her good work for the foster children or the protection of her beloved purple martins, you may do so through one of the following links: www.thepurplemartin.org or www.purplemartin.org .
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