Cynthia K. Kessler

After a long illness, Cynthia “Cindy” Kessler died on August 15, 2024 in the care of hospice in Rocky River, Ohio. She was 74. Cindy was born and raised in the Cleveland area, where she received a BA degree in psychology from Cleveland State University and worked in an inner-city clinic.

To broaden their horizons, Cindy and her husband David Kessler settled in San Francisco in the 1970’s. There, she developed a successful private counseling practice and served for 10 years as a clinical supervisor for doctoral interns at Haight Ashbury Psychological Services. Cindy continued her studies at the Gestalt Institute of San Francisco and the Wright Institute in Berkeley, where in 1990 she earned a PhD and license in Clinical Psychology. She also served on the board of the San Francisco Psychological Society.

In 2013, after David’s death, she returned to Lakewood, Ohio, with her daughter and grandson. She continued her therapeutic work there, specializing in adult psychotherapy and ADHD, until she retired in 2020. She loved her work and found great fulfillment in helping to heal the minds and hearts of her many clients.

Cindy had a kind heart and a sharp wit. She grounded herself in the great outdoors, where she loved to hike, camp, and garden. She delighted in animals, a good garage sale, music, and art. As a teenager, she won first prize in a Cleveland city-wide art contest for her drawing of the famed pop duo Sunny and Cher, and she continued to paint and draw throughout her life.

Cindy loved her family deeply and was a true and loyal friend. She is survived by her daughter Dana Kessler and her grandson Isaac Kessler, and was pre-deceased by her parents, James and Dorothy Nasser (nee Shepp). She will be greatly missed by her “sister friends” Sandra (Tasha) Babcock, Christine Buck, and Mary Gassert, as well as a circle of nieces, nephews, cousins and other family. Special thanks to the caring staff of Gentiva Hospice and Arthur’s Place, the memory care unit of The Normandy, where Cindy spent the last months of her life.

Private celebrations of Cindy’s life will be held in the Cleveland and San Francisco areas. The family welcomes donations in her memory sent directly to your local animal shelter or the Humane Society at www.humanesociety.org.