Cynthia Ann Rieger-Erie

Cynthia (Cindy) Ann Rieger-Erie, 53, was born Dec. 28, 1962 in San Diego, Calif. and passed away April 20, 2016 in her home in San Marcos, Calif. surrounded by her loved ones. Cindy will be remembered for her strength, love for life, spontaneity and charm as well as her grace, patience and leadership. She was a loyal friend; a supportive and loving mother, daughter and sister; and a very giving member of her business community. Cindy began life as the beloved first child of Ellen E. Rieger of Oklahoma and the late Henry G. Rieger (d. 2001) of Texas, a World War II veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for his military service. Ellen and Henry adopted Cindy and raised her and brother Craig Rieger in the Clairemont neighborhood of San Diego where her parents had moved after one too many Texas tornadoes. Cindy graduated in 1981 from Madison High School where she was a very active and involved member of her class playing on the girls' varsity tennis team, serving on the yearbook staff and working on the Talon school newspaper. Cindy took her first job while still in high school. She was always very independent and was determined to earn enough money to purchase a car. She worked at restaurant and retail jobs before starting her first career in property management for the Douglas Allred Company in 1990. She was recognized by the company for demonstrating superior standards—an early sign of the recognition that would come later in her recycling and entrepreneurial career. She managed the company's properties until 2000. In 1991, she married Robert (Bob) A. Erie, son of the late G. Robert Erie (d. 2011) and Bernadette E. Erie of Allentown, Penn. Cindy experienced personal tragedy as she set out to start her family with the devastating loss of her first child, son Nathan Rae Erie, who passed away at Children's Hospital in San Diego after only four precious months of life in 1992. Four years later, joy was returned to Cindy and her husband with the birth of their daughter Jessica Jordyn Erie on July 20, 1996. Cindy devoted herself to motherhood. She was always very involved in Jessica's school life and activities volunteering to help with Jessica's Girl Scouts troop, school trips, carpools and camps while Jessica attended La Costa Meadows Elementary School and San Elijo Middle School. As Jessica became a teen and attended High Tech High in San Marcos, Cindy supported her interest in modeling and enjoyed traveling with her including a memorable road trip up the coast in a red Corvette she had won for the weekend, a San Francisco stay in 2013 and a trip to the Austin City Limits Music Festival in 2014. When Jessica began her sophmore year at MiraCosta College this past year, Cindy was extremely proud and excited to see her daughter gravitate towards a career in nursing. Cindy's dedication to her daughter was all the more impressive given her work and community responsibilities. From 2001 to 2006, Cindy was Vice President of Computer Recyclers of America where she began her career in the recycling and e-waste management industry. In 2006, she helped launched E-World Recyclers and, in 2010, E-World Online in Vista. Through E-World Online, she oversaw the collection and responsible disposal of 120 million pounds of end-of-life electronics in the company's first three years. She served as President and a member of the Board of Directors of the E-World companies until her passing. In 2011, Cindy was honored by the Small Business Administration with its Small Business Person of the Year Award for San Diego/Imperial County. She was recognized for her genuine commitment to environmental concerns and her innovative spirit. In 2012, Cindy was also selected as one of San Diego Magazine's "Women Who Move the City." Cindy was passionate about responsible recycling and well regarded by her peers in the U.S. recycling industry. In 2013, she was a panelist alongside several major electronics manufacturers discussing e-waste policies at the Consumer Electronics Show. She supported various recycling industry certification programs, and her Vista facility was one of the first to receive the U.S. EPA's R2/RIOS certification. In addition to her E-World role and recycling industry involvements, Cindy made time to serve her community. She was a director of the Vista Chamber of Commerce board from 2008 to 2014 and its chair from 2012 to 2013. She chaired the Vista Business Park Council from 2008 to 2012. From 2013 until her passing, Cindy was a director of the San Diego Futures Foundation, a non-profit focused on bridging the digital divide by making information technology available to underserved populations. Her work earned her a stellar reputation in the community and led to lifelong friendships with other business leaders in the community, particularly the women in her informal "President's Club" which met monthly to share business ideas and knowledge as well as love and laughter. In August 2012, Cindy discovered a new passion when she met Bob McCann of Lexington, Kentucky during the Del Mar horse racing season. Bob or "Mac," as she affectionately called him, introduced her to the thoroughbred industry in which he had worked for over 25 years through McCann Bloodstock. She enjoyed traveling with Mac and learning about the world of thoroughbred racing as well as making new friends in Lexington—something that was always easy for her! Cindy touched many lives in immeasurable ways and leaves a legacy of warm and wonderful memories for all who had the good fortune to know her and enjoy her wit, wisdom and heart.

Cynthia Ann Rieger-Erie

December 28, 1962 - April 20, 2016