Lucinda Chandler (née Lindaas) died on July 22, 2010 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, Penn., after an unexpected illness.
Lucinda was born in Beloit, Wisc., and as a teen moved with her family to the Berkshires. Having lived in Windsor and Dalton and Scottsdale, Ariz., Lucinda was most recently living in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard.
Lucinda was an avid hiker, cyclist, and traveler. Despite her dislike of heights, she dabbled in rock climbing and, despite that she was not a swimmer, she often kayaked and was an active member of the Sail MV Rowing Club. She enjoyed gourmet fine dining, cultural events, dance, music, photography, and was a black belt in judo. She was a proud member of the Martha’s Vineyard Women’s Network and the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce. During her time in the Berkshires, Lucinda volunteered as a docent at the Berkshire Museum, founded the Home Education Resource Center (after she began homeschooling her children), and spent a considerable amount of time on Mt. Greylock, an area that she loved.
On any given day, Lucinda could be found riding an off-road vehicle through the desert or hot air ballooning with her youngest son (despite the aforementioned fear of heights), planning a trip to an exotic, new location with one or more of her children, cycling on her hot pink trike, dancing in her car, or any number of wonderful, sometimes zany, things!
After recovering from leg paralysis (caused by spinal compression after a car accident), medullary thyroid cancer, and the associated surgeries, Lucinda rode her hot pink, recumbent trike, alone, across the southern tier of the United States — from San Diego to St. Augustine, Fla. She was the first person to ride a Catrike from coast to coast. Based on her cross-country experience, she founded Trike Panther Travel Adventures, a guided cycling tour business using recumbent trikes, on Martha’s Vineyard.
In addition to her tours, residents of the Windemere Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on the island, some of whom were wheelchair-bound, were treated to rides on the trikes — an experience that has become an annual one for the nursing home. One of the residents enjoyed her first bike ride ever…at 101 years of age!
Lucinda enjoyed any opportunity to introduce people, loved ones and strangers alike, to new experiences. Visits with Lucinda were never relaxing; instead, they were action-packed, a whirlwind of adventures. Her children were the prime beneficiaries of that free-spirited attitude and speak glowingly of their mother’s energetic and carefree nature.
Lucinda traveled extensively, often with her children, and visited every state in the U.S., all of the provinces in Canada, much of Europe, some of the Caribbean, and spent time in Costa Rica and other locations. She cycled and participated in backpacking treks in many areas, including the Austrian and Swiss Alps, the wilderness of Alaska, and various sections of the Appalachian Trail.
Lucinda’s motto was “Think It! Say It! Do It!” and she followed that credo to the last letter. She was always moving, always ready for the next challenge, always eager to experience, taste, touch, visit, and explore. As open as she was to trying new things, she was steadfast in her opposition to some. She didn’t drink alcohol or smoke and, as she loved to point out, never even tried a sip of coffee. A self-proclaimed chocoholic, Lucinda rarely found a piece of chocolate that she didn’t devour. She was also known for drinking maple syrup — only the genuine stuff, of course — straight from the container.
Lucinda was generous and giving even in her final moments and was able to provide the gift of life to three individuals through the donation of her organs. Her family hopes that her spirit lives on in that way and wonders whether the recipients might one day feel the urge to ride a recumbent trike — a pink one, of course!
Lucinda leaves behind her significant other, Ken Chisholm. She is further survived by her children, Christina (Michael Profenno), Carrie, Harry Jr., Sonny, Viola, Cam-Ranh, Tiffany and Yon; her father, Thomas J. Lindaas; sister, Rhonda Lindaas-Baroli; and brother, Thomas J. Lindaas II.
Other surviving relatives are her young grandchildren Charles, Sonny, Shemar, Kenzel, Dayton, Jacob, and Breeanna; niece, Angela Lindaas; and aunts, uncles, and cousins in the Wisconsin area. She was the daughter of the late Ruth A. Lindaas. Lucinda also leaves behind a bevy of wonderful and caring friends from across the country.
A Celebration of Life service and reception will be held on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010 at the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Hall from 3 to 5pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Lucinda’s name may be sent to The Windemere Recreation Fund, c/o MVH Development, PO Box 1477, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, or The Lucinda Chandler Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 381772, Cambridge, MA 02238-1772.
