Henry F. Cygan, Jr. (1944-2022)

 

Hank's death on April 6 in Rockport, ME is reported in the Portland Press Herald. Here is the PAW memorial and Hank's Nassau Herald entry is below.

 

The family sent the following obituary to the Office of Alumni and Donor Records:

 

Henry (Hank) F. Cygan, Jr. (77), son of Henry and Annie Ruth (Viera) Cygan of New Bedford, MA, passed away in Rockport, Maine on April, 6, 2022 from post-operative complications. Hank grew up in New Bedford, Massachusetts where he developed his life-long love of sailing and the sea. He was an outstanding student and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy (Class of ’62) and Princeton University (Class of ‘66) where he majored in Chemical Engineering. He received his MS in Ocean Engineering from the University of Hawaii in 1969.
 
Hank had a long and distinguished career in the fields of engineering and construction management with numerous firms including Chevron Oil, Ocean Science and Engineering, Basil Companies, EG&G, Metcalf & Eddy, Mitchell Management Systems, and T. Y. Lin, International. He served as President Mitchell Management Systems from 1988-1990 and President of T. Y. Lin International from 1991-1994. Late in his career he worked for Bath Iron Works as a Systems Test Engineer. 
 
His work life took him around the globe and Hank spent time working throughout Europe, the Middle and Far East, North Africa, and on both coasts of the United States. Although he travelled the world he was always drawn back to the New England seashore and for the last 40 years lived close to the ocean in Maine from Yarmouth, to South Thomaston, to Camden. He loved all things sailing, restoring old boats, building ship models, studying navigation, and dreaming about regaining his sea legs and sailing around the world.
 
Hank was devoted to his two adopted daughters, Amy and Jenny. He was tireless in his battle to break down physical barriers for Amy, who was confined to a wheelchair, successfully convincing Concord Academy in Massachusetts to upgrade the accessibility of their physical plant so Amy could more easily navigate the campus.
 
Hank is survived by his former wife Susan (Bysshe), their daughter Jenny Scully, grandsons Macklin and Ronin of Connecticut, brother Ralph W. Cygan, MD and family (Dr. Katherine, Anne and Molly) of California, and by his extended family, the Holmstrom’s (Michael, Heidi, Wendy, Holly) of Massachusetts.  Hank is fondly remembered by his many good friends including Beatrice Long of Hull Massachusetts, and Maxine Cohen of Louisville, Kentucky.  He will be missed by all but most particularly he will be missed by his best friend of 30+ years and second wife, Cynthia (Cindy) Harris. Hank and Cindy remained steadfast in love, friendship, and support for each other until the very end.
 
Per Hank’s wishes his cremated remains will be spread in the waters off the coast of Maine.

 

If you have photos, thoughts, or memories of Hank that you would like to be included on this page, please email them to 66_CommTeam@tiger1966.org.

Tributes from Classmates

Peter L. Wilson: Hank and I sailed together on the Princeton Varsity team. He was a great crew and we had many exciting fall and early spring weekends freezing our butts off instead of partying on campus; memorably at MIT/Harvard on the Charles River, at the Merchant Marine Academy in Great Neck, L.I., and down in Annapolis at the Naval Academy. He was a 'big boat' sailor and I was a small one-design sailor. In 1965 he along with other 'big boat' sailors Bill Torgerson, Bob Purrington, and others were instrumental in helping Princeton beat Navy in the MacMillan Cup which was sailed in the (even then old) Luders 44 yawls. We were one of the only crews, other than Navy, who could handle the spinnaker safely in 18-20+ knots of breeze. Sail on in peaceful waters Hank.

 

Tiny Morgan: Hank was a character; he was my roommate sophomore year. I shall always admire the fact that he was devoted to Susan’s (first wife) daughter who had special needs and required significant, full time attention. Hank never shirked  he was generous and loving.

 

Jim Parmentier: I liked Hank a lot. He was a good friend, a reliable sailing partner and a skilled boatbuilder and restorer. I'm saddened by his death.