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Former Provo councilwoman, city advocate Cindy Richards dies

By Genelle Pugmire - | May 8, 2023
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Cindy Richards is pictured in this undated photo. The former Provo City Council member died Sunday, May 7, 2023.
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Cindy Richards is pictured in this undated photo with her husband, Buddy. The former Provo City Council member died Sunday, May 7, 2023.

One of Provo’s bright lights went dim Sunday as former city councilwoman and advocate Cindy Richards passed away at home surrounded by her family after a one-year struggle with brain cancer.

Richards was born in Ogden to Glen Lee and Marian D. Malan Orton. They later moved to Ladera, California, where Richards grew up as a very active girl in all kinds of sports, particularly swimming. Her speed and ability drew the attention of an elite swimming club that prepared swimmers for the Olympics. She turned them down as they practiced on Sundays.

After graduating from high school, Richards went to Brigham Young University. That is where she met her husband, A. LeGrand “Buddy” Richards. The couple moved to Boston where Buddy attended Harvard University’s graduate school in education.

Cindy Richards joined the Harvard staff as the women’s assistant swim coach. They eventually moved back to Provo where she was employed as a teacher at Orem High School.

After another two-year journey to live in Germany, the family returned to their beloved Provo home and Cindy began advocating for Provo neighborhoods and helping the widows in her own neighborhood.

She was the driving force to bring Neighbor Works to Provo and served for many years on the Provo Housing Authority. She served on other boards and commissions and was elected to the Provo City Council where she served 12 years.

She served in many church callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and most recently was called by President Russell M. Nelson to serve as matron of the Provo City Center Temple.

According to her family, Richards was a doer and loved her family, her faith and her city.

Wayne Parker, Provo’s chief administrative officer, knew Richards well and worked with her on the City Council for many years.

“Buddy and Cindy Richards have been mainstays in Provo for such a long time. Cindy was on the City Council when I started with the city and was a tireless advocate for the Pioneer neighborhoods and for the city,” Parker said. “She served a couple of terms as council chair as well. Even after her time on the council, she stayed engaged in the community. I will miss her engagement and all she and her family have given to Provo over the years.”

Richards’ later interests included making sure the UVX bus rapid transit line was done right for the city and that beer licensing was also done appropriately for Provo.

“Cindy was an exceptional person — friendly, wise, loving and faithful. She was a champion in every sense of the word — a champion for the underserved, the underdog, her family, her friends and her faith. She was a close friend and mentor to me,” said Kim Santiago, a former Provo councilwoman.

“As a Provo City Council member, Cindy was an ambassador for the downtown district and our city in general. When you drive through our downtown, her positive impact can be seen everywhere you look. She and Buddy, her husband, have been pillars of leadership for the downtown area most of their lives. She will be sorely missed,” Santiago added.

Richards was not afraid to reach out and give a mentoring hand, particularly to those who cared about Provo. She taught and mentored many.

“I got to know Cindy when I became a citizen advocate of sorts, 15 years ago. She impressed me because I could tell she was the real deal — the elected official who is in it for the right reasons,” said Diane Christensen. “Ambition was not what drove her but rather a bone-deep desire to serve her neighbors. She advocated for the vulnerable around her. She became my mentor as I started to be involved in neighborhoods and city issues, and we quickly became close friends. She was the best kind of friend — loyal and steadfast.”

“I remember being in the car several years ago as she drove a new county commissioner around central Provo pointing out problems and concerns she hoped he would address, opening his eyes to both the beauties and the eyesores. She was so eloquent and descriptive as she described her love for Provo,” Christensen added.

Of her service as matron of the Provo City Center Temple, Christensen said, “Her face would light up whenever she talked about their service in that place, which was so dear to their hearts.”

Former Mayor George Stewart gives Richards credit for getting him to run for City Council after serving a Latter-day Saint mission in Argentina.

“I first met Cindy and Buddy Richards while campaigning for mayor in 1993 and they have remained among my closest friends and supporters since that day,” Stewart, said. “In fact, it was Cindy and Stan Lockhart that convinced me to run for City Council upon returning home from Argentina. I served most of my two council terms with her and saw firsthand what an incredible and effective public servant she was — serving often in leadership and always spending full time at what is supposed to be a part-time position. This sweet, kind, wonderful wife, mother, friend and public servant will be missed by all of us friends, church and community.”

Said Lockhart, who served with Richards on the Provo City Council, “I’m a better person today because Cindy Richards was in my life. I am going to miss Cindy.”

“Cindy was my mentor. She was a person who inspired me. She and her husband are dear friends,” he added. “The first time she ran for City Council, her theme was ‘working together we all win.'”

Lockhart noted that Cindy and Buddy Richards could have lived anywhere but they chose to live in the Pioneer neighborhood in the Provo inner city. “They wanted to help make life better for people in Provo. She had her priorities right. It was God and family and then the city.”

Richards leaves behind her husband, Buddy; five daughters: Katie Jarvis (Paul), Kimberly Noorlander (Danny), Linda Lewis (Dan), Erika Coleman (Spencer), Elizabeth Fesler (David); and 16 grandchildren.

Funeral services are pending.

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