Hempstead, NY - The Hofstra University Department of Athletics is saddened to announce that our esteemed colleague Cindy Lewis passed away October 3 after a battle with cancer.

"The Hofstra community offers our deepest condolences to Cindy's family," said President Susan Poser. "Cindy made a lasting and profound impact on the lives of so many at Hofstra in her over four-decade career at the University. She was, in many ways, the heart and soul of Hofstra Athletics. We will miss her terribly and have plans to honor her legacy."

Lewis, who served as Hofstra's executive associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator, recently completed her 43rd year at Hofstra. She also served as the department's Title IX coordinator, in addition to handling sport administration duties for several of the Pride's 21 athletic teams. 
 
"The Hofstra Athletics family is devastated by Cindy's passing," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr. "During her illustrious tenure at Hofstra, Cindy wore a variety of hats, but the one thing that was at the forefront of everything she did was a love of the University, her co-workers, and, most importantly, Hofstra's student-athletes. She went above and beyond to ensure that each student-athlete had the best experience possible. Everyone who came in contact with Cindy loved her, and she will be greatly missed by so many. My thoughts go out to her family and friends at this difficult time."
 
Lewis, who hailed from Massapequa, New York, graduated from Hofstra in 1979 with a degree in physical education. She was a field hockey and women's lacrosse student-athlete for four seasons. After earning a master's in physical education from the University of New Hampshire in 1980, Lewis returned to her alma mater and served as head coach of both field hockey and women's lacrosse.
 
Over the course of her Hofstra tenure, Lewis was involved in the extensive growth of Pride Athletics, including overseeing the introduction of women's soccer and women's golf as intercollegiate sports. Her commitment to the implementation of Title IX allowed women's athletics at Hofstra to flourish. 
 
Lewis was a member of the NCAA Women's Lacrosse and Volleyball Committees, serving as chairperson of volleyball committee in 1995. In addition, she was a site representative at NCAA Volleyball and Lacrosse Championships and was a tournament director at several NCAA Championship events held at Hofstra. 
 
Beyond her Hofstra duties, she was a former president of the Long Island Women's Lacrosse Association and served as a women's lacrosse official on both the collegiate and high school levels. In addition, Lewis was a volleyball and field hockey official for local high schools. 
 
During her celebrated career, Lewis was inducted into the 2022 Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame and the 2020 Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame. In August 2023, she received the CAA's John H. Randolph Inspiration Award.

Lewis is survived by her partner, Kathy Theiling; her siblings, Doris, David, Joanne (spouse), Daniel, and Jeana (spouse); and many nieces and nephews. She will be deeply missed by her friends, co-workers, and colleagues.