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Cynthia Reed Quinlan was born in San Antonio Texas where she attended Sacred Heart School, Incarnate Word High School and St. Mary's University. As the daughter of the very well known and highly successful Henry Reed, she began honing her entrepreneurial skills as a young girl traveling the country with her father and visiting trademarks and brokers for Reed Candle Company. Henry and Cyndi had many ideas for forming new companies and together they came up with Sea Island Shrimp House, which introduced a new concept of ordering at the counter instead of employing a wait staff. Another brainchild of the pair was the Old San Francisco Steakhouse, which is still decorated with artwork personally selected by Cyndi, which she scavenged from bins, shops and dungeons from all over New Orleans. Cyndi' s personal business ventures were numerous and she was a woman ahead of her time. In 1979, she opened her retail store, Facets, while also developing The Broadway 5050 with her first husband Gus Linthicum. She was also a licensed car dealer, owning her own lot and was one of the few women of her time to work as a "finish out" contractor. She owned CIC, one of the largest regional exporters of clothing to Africa, and was noted as the only woman in the world doing this. Cyndi was active in her community and served on the board of directors of the Downtown Youth Center and on the Board of MAUC Mexican American Unity Council. She was also a board member and officer of Club Josef and a member of the San Antonio Conservation Society. Cyndi loved offshore sailing and was especially known for her fantastic Christmas parties where everyone clamored to attend. As mother, father, friend and confidant to her son Reed A. Kopplow, her support and love were absolute. Reed has been to a great source of strength and comfort to all near him and has exhibited the qualities so inherent in his mother, caring for her with unqualified love, devotion, and tenderness. Cyndi could not be more proud of Reed, very special young man. Cyndi gives her thanks to Cyndi's Angels, a group of long-time friends and family, who have shown exceptional support throughout her illness. Cyndi expressed her thanks and love to Karen Karem and Robert Wurzbach, who were more like family than friends, standing with her from beginning to end. Cyndi wants people affected with this disease to know that although she was in some discomfort, she did not have pain. Cyndi was preceded in death by her father, Henry Reed, her grandfather, Peter D. Reed Big Poppa and her beloved brother Mark Reed. Cyndi is survived by her adored son Reed A. Kopplow and her brother Gary Reed; also, her husband John Quinlan. A memorial service will be held at 4:30 PM Friday, February 3, 2006 at St Pius X Catholic Church 3303 Urban Crest. Destination for the celebration of Cyndi's life will be announced at the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486 Houston, TX 77210-4486 or www.mdanderson.org/gifts in the name of Cynthia Reed Quinlan.

Tributes

Cynthia Reed Quinlan

January 31, 2006 - January 31, 2006