Cynthia Louise Simpson

She was creative and flirtatious and possessed a gracious sociability. She loved music - and once wrote she'd fallen in love with her musician husband at the first sound of his voice. She was passionate about her numerous canine companions.

Cynthia (Cyndi) Simpson of Bangor, passed away on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 after a long illness. She was born in Bangor, Maine on June 6, 1952, the second child of an eventual eight, to Patricia (Russell) Simpson and Bernard M. Simpson, Sr. She was a beloved daughter, wife, sister, aunt, and friend.

She spent her early childhood in Newburgh where her paternal roots dated back to the early 1800s, then moved with her family to Winterport where her parents had purchased a rural home on 50 acres of fields and woods, with a private swimming hole in a gushing stream that bordered the family property. Following the closure of the small Winterport High School, she attended and graduated from Brewer High School in 1970.

Out of high school, she initially worked as a secretary for a Bangor insurance office. Cyndi first met Rick Haseltine when she signed up to take guitar lessons from him.

They married in 1974 and soon after, Rick, Cyndi and their dog Skippy went on the road with the band MacTavish on a six-month performing tour of the east coast.

Cynthia subsequently worked as a legal secretary for several prominent Bangor law offices, including Stern and Goldsmith. She also worked at the US District Court in Bangor and spoke of her appreciation that among her other duties there, she was able to participate in citizenship naturalization ceremonies.

When she decided to enroll in a degree program at the University of Maine, she supplemented her income bartending at several Bangor area pubs and taverns. She spoke fondly of friendships made and contacts enjoyed during that period, such as a lively conversation with
founding member of the daring high wire Flying Wallendas, Karl Wallenda.

She later worked for several years as a Local Sales Executive for ABC Television.

She continued, throughout her adult life, to embrace new challenges, taking horseback riding, ice skating and ballet lessons and art classes and though her drawings suggested a rich and whimsical talent, she was private with her art and shared it infrequently. She spoke enthusiastically of her enjoyment of participating in community theater musicals. And while working full time, she earned a college degree and discovered a love of and talent for writing. She had a passion for decorating and spent spare time creating a beautiful home where she hosted Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas gatherings. For her, Christmas decorating was a labor of love and the transformation of her home was magical.

She had an enthusiasm for travel, initiated when at the age of 16 she flew for the first time to visit her best friend, Linda on Long Island and was introduced to the sights of NYC. She later enjoyed travel for work, NYC Broadway Shows, brief holidays in Quebec and Montreal, sightseeing in London, visiting with family throughout the East Coast and a trip to Vegas highlighted with a post performance meeting with actress Debbie Reynolds.

At the center of Cyndi's life were her dogs - Skippy, Mugsy, Chip, Ernie, Spike, Mac, and finally Gabby, who passed at the approximate age of 15 shortly after the onset of Cyn's illness.

Cynthia was predeceased by her husband, Rick Haseltine, and her mother and father. She is survived by sisters Terrilyn Simpson of Winthrop, Robin Simpson and her husband Mark Belanger of Chazy, New York, and Trish Simpson of Brewer, and brothers, Bradley Simpson of Winterport, Brian Simpson and his wife Michelle of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Barrett Simpson of Winterport, and Bernard Simpson Jr. and his wife Shirley of West Palm Beach, Florida, 13 nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews. She is additionally survived by close friends Shirley and Rick Grover of Clifton.

A celebration of Cynthia's life will be held in July, the date and place to be announced.