PORTLAND - - Marguerite "Cissie" Williams Lindemann, 88, of Portland passed away peacefully after a long, fulfilled life of service on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013. She was born on April 3, 1925, the daughter of Marguerite Darmour and Paul Williams.PORTLAND - - Marguerite "Cissie" Williams Lindemann, 88, of Portland passed away peacefully after a long, fulfilled life of service on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013. She was born on April 3, 1925, the daughter of Marguerite Darmour and Paul Williams.
As a teenager growing up in Washington DC, Cissie sat in the gallery of the Capitol for FDR's "Day of Infamy" speech following the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the war, she started her career in radio as a production assistant at Foote, Cone & Belding in California where she travelled all over the country with the Bob Hope Show. She moved to New York City to join the day's fledgling New Media, television. She worked on “We the People” and the legendary "Your Show of Shows" where she met her husband Carl Lindemann, Kate Smith's cameraman.
Cissie raised five children in Greenwich, Connecticut. She was committed to the community and volunteered for numerous social service organizations, often in leadership roles. In the 70's, she and her family began their migration to Maine, first with summers on Chebeague Island. Throughout, she supported her husband as he rose through the ranks of television where he ultimately became Head of NBC Sports. They traveled the world together for major sporting events including the Olympics, Super Bowl, World Series, Kentucky Derby and U.S. Open Tennis. They retired in South Freeport in the 80's till death parted them in 1985.
Cissie created a new life for herself that made her a familiar face in Portland. A lifelong history buff, she immersed herself in the city's past and authored a popular walking tour book. She guided many up-and-down the observatory steps for Greater Portland Landmarks and worked the crowds at the Eastern Cemetary’s, “Walk Among the Shadows” event. She is best known for creating and managing the Jazz Brunch that lit up the Portland Museum of Art on Sundays for many years. Always devoted to service, she co-founded St. Elizabeth's Essentials Pantry.
Cissie took great pride in her children’s accomplishments both in Maine and away. She often frequented Coffee By Design which her daughter, Mary Allen, co-founded.
Cissie is survived by her daughters Cathie Muscat of Guilford, Vermont, Sarah Lindemann-Komarova of Novosibirsk, Russia, Frances Lindemann and Mary Allen Lindemann, both of Portland, and Carl Lindemann of Austin, Texas. She is survived by five grandchildren, Victor, Cate, Fulton, Carla and Alina.
Visiting hours which will be held on Monday, August 12, 2013 from 4 to 7 pm at Hobbs Funeral Home 230 Cottage Road South Portland. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 11:00 am at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke 143 State Street Portand. A reception will be held afterwards at One Longfellow Square in Portland.
In lieu of flowers, the family has created a Fund in Cissie’s name to support jazz music at One Longfellow Square. Donations may be made to:
One Longfellow Square
181 State Street
Portland, Maine 04101
ATTN: Cissie Lindemann’s Celebration of Jazz Fund