Obituary: Agnes Cynthia Matthews, 92, of Waterford

Information via Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Homes

Agnes Cynthia Matthews, sister, wife, and mother, respected community leader and brave early woman in CT politics died Monday Oct. 31 at the home she shared with her twin sister, Helen Maltezos, in Waterford, CT.

Agnes and Helen were born in Washington, Pennsylvania, to ethically Greek parents Spero and Harriett Kosmas born in Asia Minor. Agnes majored in International Relations and graduated from Barnard Collegein New York City. In 1946 she married WWII Navy veteran and businessman Phathon James ("PJ") Matthews of Wethersfield. Cynthia immediately joined The League of Women Voters and stayed active in the organization while raising two children. In 1967 she became President of the Wethersfield League of Women Voters and lead a successful effort to prevent a racetrack from being built in town marshlands. She ran for Wethersfield town council in 1972, and became Wethersfield's first female Mayor serving until 1981.

In 1982, after knocking on 1000 doors in her election campaign, Matthews won the Connecticut 9th District senate seat. Serving four terms, Cynthia co-chaired the General Assembly's Human Services and Public Health committees. In 1992 Cynthia was tapped by Governor Lowell P. Weicker to serve as Executive Director of the Connecticut Commission on Aging. She retired from that post in 2000, and since that time, lived in Waterford with her twin sister Helen Maltezos where they enjoyed a beautiful view of the Niantic river, opera, books, movies and happy companionship.

Cynthia Matthews is survived by her daughter Denise Matthews and son-in-law Bill Black; son Spero Matthews, daughter-in-law Regina Marchione and grandchildren Alexandra Marchione Matthews and Theodore Marchione Matthews of California. Her twin sister Helen died exactly two weeks before Cynthia. Memorial services for the Cynthia and Helen will be held on Saturday November 26 beginning 12 PM. at St. Sophia's Hellenic Orthodox Church in New London, CT 06320.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Matthews-Maltezos Memorial Fund in care of Saint Sophia Greek Hellenic Orthodox Church.