Cynthia TenBroeck Snowden

Cynthia TenBroeck Snowden passed away on Sunday, March 19, 2023, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from Covid complications. She was 85. Cynthia was born on August 16, 1937, in Clinton, Indiana, to John (Jack) and Juliet (Judy) Catherine Ott Snowden. Cynthia was the eldest of four; her brothers Eric, Duncan, and Andy Snowden survived her. Cynthia spent her early childhood in the Chicago suburbs and in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She and her parents moved to Rockville, Indiana (Judy Snowden's hometown) when Cynthia was in junior high school. Cynthia graduated from Rockville High School in 1955 and matriculated at Park College, near Kansas City, Missouri. At Park she met and married Ed Thuma. They had two children, Nathan and David. Cynthia received her undergraduate degree in English literature in 1960 from Southern Oregon College. She returned to Indiana in 1963, teaching at Rockville High School for one year before moving to Indianapolis, where she began teaching in the Indianapolis Public Schools.

She and Ed Thuma were divorced in 1966. Cynthia and the boys moved to Bloomington, Indiana, where she got a master's degree in Guidance Counseling. She returned to Indianapolis and IPS, where she continued to teach and work for the rest of her career. She was quite popular with her students.

She married David Rohn in 1971. They divorced several years later. In 1982 she married James N. Rogers. The third time sometimes being a charm, this marriage lasted until Jim's death in 2015.

Upon retirement from teaching, Cynthia and Jim moved to the northern California coast (the Sea Ranch), where they built a house and lived for about ten years. She and Jim then moved to Placitas, New Mexico, to be closer to healthcare. She developed Alzheimer's disease and moved from Placitas to a retirement center in Albuquerque. In spite of her dementia, Cynthia remained a good conversationalist, a ready wit, and an excellent speller until the end.

Cynthia loved nature and enjoyed the out of doors wherever she lived. As a teenager, she had a horse named Dixie. Her love of horses and riding were a great joy in her life. She and Jim rode together and owned several horses over the years. They were both animal lovers and shared their homes with many dogs, cats, birds, mice, and a gecko.

Cynthia is survived by her brothers and sons, Nathan Thuma (with his wife, Laurie Yoder and sons, Tobin, Gabriel and Malcolm); and David Thuma (with his wife Becky, and daughter, Kate).

Cynthia also loved books. She and Jim created an extensive library, which David has maintained. Cynthia was so taken by the novels of Angela Thirkell that in 2000 she authored and published Going to Barsetshire - A Companion to the Barsetshire Novels of Angela Thirkell.

This thumbnail sketch does not do justice to the unique blend of intelligence, wit, charm, beauty, taste, and learning that made Cynthia such a pleasure to know and love. Her facility with language and grasp of English literature were quite remarkable. Cynthia will be missed by those fortunate enough to know her.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., at the Chapel in Hoosier Village, 9891 Purple Plum Lane, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268.