Judith L. Cylvick
Judith Ann (Linhart) Cylvick
January 11, 1942 – October 11, 2026
Judith Ann Linhart Cylvick, lovingly known as Judy, was born on January 11, 1942, at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Harry Miller “Ho” Linhart and Bettye Roberta Hilliard Linhart. Ho, a hardworking draftsman who put himself through Carnegie Mellon, was immensely proud of his daughter. Bettye, a devoted physical education teacher for more than 30 years, had told Ho she wanted “a piano and a baby.” Judy became the absolute heart of the life they built together, and she kept her mother’s piano for the rest of her life.
Judy spent her early childhood in Pitcairn, Pennsylvania, before the family moved to East McKeesport, where their home at 430 Miami Street became affectionately known as the “430 Club.” It was a place where friends gathered, laughter was constant, and there was always room for one more. That welcoming spirit became a defining part of Judy’s character and the way she built her own home decades later.
During her senior year of high school, Judy endured a devastating tragedy when several of her close male friends, including her boyfriend, were killed in a car accident. The loss stayed with her throughout her life and shaped a warning she repeated to Eric, his friends, and later her grandsons: “Driving is the most dangerous thing you will do. It’s one thing to risk your own life, but you do not have the right to risk the lives of those riding with you.” Her words came from profound sorrow and a fierce desire to protect her family and the young people she loved.
Judy graduated from East McKeesport High School in 1959 and earned her degree in education from Lake Erie College for Women in 1963. Judy and her friends fondly and jokingly referred to it as the “Lake College for Eerie Women.” That same year, she met Francis “Frank” Cylvick at Betty Topply’s wedding. They married on July 27, 1963, beginning a devoted partnership rooted in family, work, and lifelong friendships. Judy taught fifth grade for three years before welcoming their son, Eric, the center of her world.
Judy’s playful spirit made her unforgettable. She would chase Eric around the house as he yelled, “Fro me down and tickle me!”, arm-wrestled his friends (and beat them), and welcomed every kid who walked through her door. She was the beautiful, cool mom everyone adored, sometimes relating to the kids more easily than their adult parents. She was also a talented seamstress who made all of her own clothes, including bikinis she proudly wore to the beach and the sluice on Eatons Neck. She taught Eric’s female friends to sew, becoming a mother figure to them.
Judy had a rare gift for making people feel they belonged. You didn’t have to be family to be welcomed into her home, and you didn’t have to be part of her life for long to become part of her heart.
In 1997, Judy and Frank moved from Long Island to Centennial, Wyoming. A Thanksgiving visit to Park City that year changed the course of their family forever. Judy spent hours talking and cooking with Eric’s roommate, Sarah, and immediately sensed something special. Though Eric insisted they were “just friends,” Judy later told her own friends that she had “chosen” Sarah that night and hoped she would someday become her daughter-in-law. Judy had an extraordinary intuition about people and about life. She seemed to see things others hadn’t yet recognized, whether in the people she loved, a real estate purchase, or the places she chose to call home. Her decision to choose Sarah was just an example of her remarkable ability to trust her instincts. Years later, after Judy gently nudged Eric with the question, “What is wrong with Sarah!?” he finally realized what Judy had seen all along and had been hinting at. One month later, Eric and Sarah began dating.
Judy and Frank became woven into every part of Eric and Sarah’s lives and work. Frank generously shared his expertise and built the electronic components for their ZipRider installations, and holidays were spent together in a seamless blend of friendship and family. When Cash and Tor were born, Judy and Frank embraced grandparenthood with enthusiasm. Judy had a new Lego set waiting for the boys at every visit, sparking their imaginations and early love of building and engineering. Frank taught Cash to solder circuit boards, passing on hands-on knowledge that shaped his future curiosity.
Their home in Wyoming became a magical world for the boys—filled with delicious homemade dinners, hot fudge sundaes, Lego building, outdoor adventures, and endless play. The boys explored the wilds of Judy and Frank’s property so freely that, for much of their childhood, they believed Judy and Frank’s home was Wyoming. To Cash and Tor, Judy wasn’t simply their grandmother. She was their beloved Farmor—the Swedish name for a father’s mother—and, as they often told her, “the best Farmor in the world.”
Judy and Frank shared an extraordinary marriage. Their love was visible in everything they did—from working together at CF Electronics to dancing in their living room to building three miles of crossbuck fencing side by side on their property. They found joy in simple pleasures, in shared work, and in the deep friendships that defined their life together.
Judy’s warmth extended far beyond her family. She built lifelong friendships in every place she lived—Pitcairn, East McKeesport, Lake Erie, Long Island, Centennial, and later Utah. She maintained handwritten correspondence for her entire life, sending and receiving cards and letters from friends across the country. Even after moving to Utah, the letters continued to arrive weekly, a testament to how deeply she touched the lives of others.
After Frank passed away, Judy faced increasing health challenges. Her close friends recognized she needed family nearby and reached out to Eric and Sarah. Over Easter weekend in 2025, Eric and Sarah moved Judy into her own home next door to them in Utah. Maintaining her independence mattered deeply to Judy, and having her own home allowed her to keep her autonomy while staying close to the family who loved her most.
For the last year and a half of her life, Judy joined Eric, Sarah, Cash, and Tor for dinner in their home every evening. Sarah prepared nourishing meals, brought Judy breakfast most mornings, and created a home filled with warmth, laughter, and connection, just as Judy had done throughout her life. Eric was absolutely devoted in his daily care and attention to his mother. These days and evenings became precious rituals, moments of togetherness that grew more meaningful as Judy’s health declined.
On the evening of October 11th, Judy’s family gathered for one last beautiful night together. Cash had come home from college, and both boys were able to say their final goodbyes and thank her for being the best Farmor ever. Surrounded by love, Judy passed away peacefully. When she “grew her angel wings,” Eric opened all the windows in her room, allowing her spirit to fly free.
Judy’s life was one of extraordinary connection—to her beloved parents, her devoted Frank, her son Eric, her daughter-in-law Sarah, her grandsons Cash and Tor, and the countless friends who remained part of her life across generations and miles. She created homes that welcomed everyone, friendships that lasted lifetimes, and a legacy of love that will endure through all who were fortunate enough to know her.
Judy will be remembered for her stoic demeanor, endless energy, playful spirit, generosity, strong will, and devotion to the people she loved. She was steadfast in her convictions, stubborn when she knew her own mind, and quietly resilient in the face of life’s challenges. She had a remarkable intuition about people and places, a gift for making others feel welcome, and an ability to turn ordinary moments into cherished memories. She maintained friendships across a lifetime and built a life rich in love, laughter, and connection. Her influence lives on in the family she loved, the friendships she nurtured, and the countless lives made better simply because she was part of them.
Everyone loved Judy. And everyone lucky enough to be loved by Judy will carry a piece of her forever.