This job just got a little less satisfying for me.
I was informed Tuesday that Cindy Fama had passed away. Cindy’s name will be familiar to many – on different levels – but her passion and commitment will always resonate with me.
When I found out she was gone, I went outside and sat in a chair in the middle of the sun for 15 minutes just to kind of let it wash over me and be okay.
Well, it’s not okay. But it is life and I will accept it.
Cindy Fama was the driving force behind the Colton Corner, a weekly part of the Molalla Pioneer, then the Herald-Pioneer, and finally the Herald-Independent. Cindy had been doing the Corner for years – I have no idea how long – and it brought together an older style of newspapering with the modern style.
The Corner was more conversational, kind of like a column (like this one) and a traditional story, mixing feelings, thoughts and facts into a nice, friendly, small-town stew. I loved it and I loved Cindy for doing it.
And Cindy did it because she was passionate about her community, passionate about telling stories week after week that impacted her little corner of the world. And when I say week-after-week, I mean it.
She wrote stories every week that I can remember, except for a couple where I didn’t need anything that week (holidays, etc.).
But generally, she was a machine at producing something every week about Colton and the Colton area. I admired the hell out of her for that, and the passion she carried for her realm.
It was unique, it was fun, and it was something we just don’t see much in my business anymore.
I remember several times, when finances were tough in the business, that there were calls for the Corner to be extinguished and save a few bucks. I fought that every time, pointing out its importance to the paper and the community she served – because without her, there won’t be much of that anymore.
You may have noticed my plate is pretty full at this point, so Cindy’s contributions were such a blessing, and I appreciated it and her. Yeah, they weren’t getting rid of the Corner if I had anything to say about it.
I must have been a decent advocate because she and it were still going strong.
I wish I had a chance to say goodbye. I always enjoyed our chats via email and looked forward to talking about story ideas with her. I will miss those times, that vibe, and her goodness and passion for the community.
My thanks to Nina Baurer for putting together the Corner for Aug. 19. I’m glad Cindy’s legacy was kept alive, if only for a week, by someone who valued it.
Cindy Fama is gone, but I certainly won’t forget her or what she did for so many years. In this day and age, it’s a little awe-inspiring.