- Date Of Death: July 2, 2018
- State: Michigan
Cynthia “Cindy” Sue (Damitz) Stock was born in Detroit, Michigan on January 5th 1952 and was then adopted out of Kalamazoo, Michigan by Vi and Jim Damitz of Gladstone where she completed their family of four with her brother Mike. In her youth she worked at the Hilltop Drive-In on Danforth road in Escanaba which was family owned and run by her grandparents. Cindy excelled academically graduating with honors from Gladstone High School with the class of 1970. She continued her education at Bay College earning her Associates Degree and moving on to Michigan Technological University where she earned her Bachelors of Science with a degree in Medical Technology. Feeling uninspired by her career choices that pertained to her degree, Cindy returned home to Gladstone and found herself back at the drive in as well as working as a waitress/bartender at the North Dixie Bar owned by her brother Mike and his wife Linda. It was working these odd jobs she answered an ad for a teacher’s aide position at a local head-start. She was turned down for the position with her first application but determined Cindy applied again and was hired. It was there she discovered her true passion; teaching. She earned her teaching certification from Northern Michigan University and was hired by the Gladstone School System at their Flat Rock Elementary school teaching 4th and 6th grades. It was at Flat Rock that she spent the majority of her career. When Gladstone added 6th grade to their Junior High School, Cindy followed and finished her career teaching grades 6-8th at the Gladstone Junior High School. Her passion and dedication to education were a driving force for who she was as a woman.
Family meant everything to Cindy. She was very involved with the raising of her 3 nieces and 1 nephew often referring to them as her “children before children.” In 1983 Cindy met the man of her dreams and her best friend for life in Victor “Vic” Stock Jr. They married in late September of that year and welcomed their first child, Jessica Jayne, in early March 1984. In 1987 tragedy struck as Vic and Cindy lost their second child and only son John Edward to prenatal complications. Broken hearted but still seeking to grow their family Cindy and Vic tried and succeeded in 1988 with the birth of their second daughter Cassandra Joy. Feeling satisfied with their family they decided to not have anymore children but God had other plans and in late 1989 arriving 13 weeks early, third daughter, Regina Marie, was born at just 2lbs 1oz. With this final addition the Stock family was complete.
From early in life Cindy was devoted to her church and church family. As a member of Memorial United Methodist Church in Gladstone, Cindy dedicated her talents as an educator teaching Sunday School each week and leading the Youth group when the need arose. She was also very musically active in the church as a member of the bell choir and also as a part time pianist for the early service. Her faith in God was contagious and unwavering even in her last days.
Cindy is survived by her husband Victor and three daughters Jessica, Cassandra, and Regina of Gladstone. As well as her brothers James “Mike” (Susan) Damitz, John (Terri) Brooks, Scott Brooks, her sister Jackie (Mike) Johnson and many many nieces and nephews and “adopted” children and their families. Cindy has been united in heaven with her parents James and Violet (Boldus) Damitz, biological mother Charlene (Dennis) Brooks of Kalamazoo and in-laws Victor and Betty (Gauthier) Stock Sr of Gladstone.
