Cynthia “Cyndi” Ames Haselton died unexpectedly on Christmas morning at her home in Colchester, Vt. She was 69 years old.
Cyndi was born in Morristown, N.J., to John and Patricia Ames. She graduated from Kent Place School and Boston University. In 1975, she married her high school sweetheart, Franklin “Gary” Haselton, at the family home on Malletts Bay. The young couple moved to coastal Maine in 1977, first to Boothbay Harbor and then Edgecomb. They had four children in five years: Hillary (1979), identical twins Dusty and Britt (1981), and Hannah (1984). In addition to raising her children, Cyndi worked as a part-time journalist for the Boothbay Register and volunteered for her community.
In 1990, Cyndi made the bold and courageous decision to pursue her medical degree and become a doctor. The family of six moved to Williston, Vt., where she enrolled in medical school at the University of Vermont at the age of 35 with four young children. She continued her residency at UVM and eventually became a beloved family practitioner in Burlington. Throughout their lifetimes, Cyndi, Gary and the family continued to spend time each summer at the Haselton family’s summer home in Boothbay Harbor. She and Gary moved to her family’s Malletts Bay home in 2005.
After Cyndi retired in 2012, she dedicated her time to volunteering for causes that were important to her. She took several trips to Nicaragua to volunteer at medical clinics in rural areas. She was passionate about nature, animals, music and, most notably, land conservation and addiction recovery. Starting in 2018, she served on the board of the Turning Point Center of Chittenden County, where she generously shared her time and expertise with the organization. Her contributions enriched and expanded recovery resources within the Burlington community.
Cyndi was an exercise enthusiast who had an affinity for the outdoors. Always on the move, she loved biking, walking, hiking, cross-country and downhill skiing, swimming, dancing, gardening, and gathering firewood. To get herself through medical school and her professional life, she studied and worked on custom-made bike desks — either outside in good weather or inside in bad weather and long into the night. Exercise was her remedy for practically everything. She biked everywhere she could for errands and for pleasure. Her favorite days were the ones when she had the time to bike from the family home in Williston to Mount Mansfield or Camel’s Hump, hike to the top, and then bike home — and, after a trip to the lap pool, she would hop on her exercise equipment for hours on end.
Most recently, her adventurous spirit led her to Switzerland and France with her daughter Hannah to check off one of her bucket list trips: hiking part of the Tour du Mont Blanc. She was truly in her element in the Alps, soaking up what she called the “power of the mountains.”
Cyndi was an Energizer bunny who had the biggest heart. She would drop anything to give a helping hand, to offer medical advice to someone in need or to bike to a grandchild’s sports event. Her tenacious spirit will be deeply missed by her family, friends and community.
Cyndi was predeceased by Gary in 2010, Dusty in 2017 and her parents. She is survived by her children: Hillary Haselton of Centennial, Colo.; Britt Haselton and his wife, Lexie, of Bolton, Vt.; Dusty’s widow, Melinda Haley Haselton, of Ghent, N.Y.; and Hannah Jackson and her husband, Doug, of Colchester, Vt. She is also survived by her brother, John Ames of Winooski, Vt., and seven thriving grandchildren: Lucas, Logan, Wynn, Teddy, Kaia, Kota and Haley.
A private celebration of life will be held this summer. In lieu of flowers, go for a hike in her honor, and if you’d like to make a memorial donation in her name, please make them to Turning Point Center or Boothbay Region Land Trust. Choose adventure whenever possible, and keep moving!
Arrangements are in care of Champlain Cremation, South Burlington. To send condolences to her family, please visit champlaincremation.com.
This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 4, 2025.