By Judy Wainscott
Cy Wainscott, 74, who died September 27th at home in Gambier, was literally raised in movie theaters in north central Illinois (Rantoul
and Champaign-Urbana), where his parents managed theaters.
He and his
brother, Marc, would report to work there after school.
brother, Marc, would report to work there after school.
One of Cy’s special jobs, he recently told his wife, Judy, was making popcorn in the theater basement, bagging it with lots of salt and butter, then taking it up to the candy stand. When he or Marc tired of the feature movie,
they would nap on cots in the projection room, entertaining one another
by acting out favorite scenes until they fell asleep.
they would nap on cots in the projection room, entertaining one another
by acting out favorite scenes until they fell asleep.
Cy never lost his
love for popcorn—his comfort food—or for the movies of the 30’s and
40’s. As he realized he was dying from cancer, he cheered himself by
watching dozens of old movies on DVD.
love for popcorn—his comfort food—or for the movies of the 30’s and
40’s. As he realized he was dying from cancer, he cheered himself by
watching dozens of old movies on DVD.
His early career goal was the Lutheran ministry and he prepared at
Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. During his senior year, he worked on
the college newspaper and decided he would make a better newsman than preacher. He never regretted that decision.
His first job after graduating in 1957 was as a reporter for the Ashland (OH) Times-Gazette. He was soon managing editor, the youngest in the state at that time.
In 1962, he joined The Plain Dealer as a copy editor and was eventually a
Managing Editor, responsible for overseeing the production of the
newspaper. He was a member of Unit One, the American Newspaper Guild, and of the journalism fraternity, Sigma Delta Chi, and past president of
the Press Club of Cleveland.
Managing Editor, responsible for overseeing the production of the
newspaper. He was a member of Unit One, the American Newspaper Guild, and of the journalism fraternity, Sigma Delta Chi, and past president of
the Press Club of Cleveland.
During the 1980s, for five years, he was publicity director of Kansas
State University in Manhattan, KS. He left to join a division of
Eastman-Kodak in Boston that made computer systems for newspapers. He saw the world on that job, consulting with newspapers in New Zealand,
Poland, Sweden, Scotland and England, including the Times of London.
In 1991, Cy and Judy returned to a home they’d purchased in Gambier, her
hometown, where he joined the Kenyon (College) Review as Managing
Editor. He also served as advisor to the student newspaper, The
Collegiate, and was selected all-campus advisor-of-the-year.
State University in Manhattan, KS. He left to join a division of
Eastman-Kodak in Boston that made computer systems for newspapers. He saw the world on that job, consulting with newspapers in New Zealand,
Poland, Sweden, Scotland and England, including the Times of London.
In 1991, Cy and Judy returned to a home they’d purchased in Gambier, her
hometown, where he joined the Kenyon (College) Review as Managing
Editor. He also served as advisor to the student newspaper, The
Collegiate, and was selected all-campus advisor-of-the-year.
He retired
in 1995 to pursue hobbies, including the King Arthur legend, model
trains, tropical fish and heraldry. He loved to design coats of arms and
was working on a set for the Board of Trustees of Kenyon when he died.
in 1995 to pursue hobbies, including the King Arthur legend, model
trains, tropical fish and heraldry. He loved to design coats of arms and
was working on a set for the Board of Trustees of Kenyon when he died.
During a trip to England in the 1960’s, he was so moved by a service at
Westminster Abbey he returned home an Episcopalian. He was an active
member of Harcourt Parish Episcopal Church in Gambier where a memorial
service will be held Saturday, October 24 at 11 am.
Westminster Abbey he returned home an Episcopalian. He was an active
member of Harcourt Parish Episcopal Church in Gambier where a memorial
service will be held Saturday, October 24 at 11 am.
Besides Cy’s widow, Judith McCluskey Wainscott, whom he married in 1965,
he is survived by his mother, Frances McDaniel Wainscott Grantham, of
Fairborn, OH. Other survivors include his brother Marc’s widow, also
Judy Wainscott, of Fairborn; his brother-in law Jon (Tony) McCluskey and
his wife, Bonnie, of Appleton, WI; a nephew, Charlie McCluskey, of
Oshkosh, WI; a neice, Paige McCluskey Richards of Milwaukee and her
husband, Erik, and their daughters, Sadie and Stella. Cy’s father, Cyril
Emmett Wainscott, died in 1958. Cy’s widow requests that memorial
donations be made to favorite charities.
For funeral home info and to leave condolences visit http://www.snyderfuneralhomes.com/\
Alana Baranack has an obit with lots of photos at http://obitsohio.com/2009/09/28/cy-wainscott-74-gambier/
The Plain Dealer's obit can be read at http://www.cleveland.com/obituaries/index.ssf/2009/09/cy_wainscott_former_managing_e.html
No comments:
Post a Comment