It’s a good thing her co-workers kept it a surprise, or Cindy Collins wouldn’t have shown up for her own going-away party. Collins, who has spent most of the past 16 years in local San Marino government, has proven herself time and again to be the consummate public servant, with the emphasis on servant.
Co-workers gathered at city hall under the ruse of an all-departments chili cook-off, where they showered the outgoing interim city manager with tokens of their appreciation: Gift cards for restaurants and golf, and a San Marino street sign indicating the creation of ‘Cindy Way.’
“My garage will be Cindy Way,” Collins joked.
The street may be ficticious, but all who came in contact with Collins are more than familiar with what will always be remembered around these parts as “the Cindy Way,” which included equal parts kindness, compassion, understanding and respect, with just the right amount of humor and happiness sprinkled in for good measure. During her tenure, Collins was asked to perform just about every task possible: from Recreation Director, Library Manager, Assistant City Manager. And maybe the most vital of all: Her recent 15-month stint as Interim City Manager, which officially ended yesterday. She approached each new assignment as if it was the one single job she had dreamed of all her life and the results always bore out that youthful optimism.
Collins will stick around for a couple weeks to help new City Manager Marcella Marlowe during the transition process.
“A lot has happened this year,” said Collins, who took over when John Schafer retired in July, 2016. “There have been some difficult times, but in the last two or three months, the morale has been so good. It’s like the old team is back together.”
Collins came to San Marino in 2001 when she was told by then-City Manager Rob Wishner that “a lot of people are interested in recreation.” San Marino was in the process of forming an ad hoc committee and was soon named director of the Recreation Department.
Collins was promoted to Assistant City Manager under Matt Ballantyne and ran the Crowell Public Library shortly after its opening and the untimely passing of Librarian Carolyn Crain.
When her daughter, Caroline, entered junior high school in 2012, Collins took some time off to be closer to home and later accepted some interim assignments in Chino Hills and Irvine. The San Marino circle was completed a year ago when she was called in for her swansong.
“I have been involved with the city since 2001 and this year was one of major, major changes,” Collins said. “When there is so much change there is a challenge. But going forward, I think the city is in great shape. It is moving forward and it is very strong.”
Collins told The Tribune she is most proud of maintaining a positive attitude among city staff.
“I think being able to keep the employees together as a team during a time when it really could have gone south,” she said. “These people really care about the city. They care about their jobs, but they also really care about what they do here. They are very committed. So the fact that they stayed together during this time of change is huge.”
Collins said her work with a committee that created the new War Memorial in Lacy Park will carry the most treasured memories of her time in San Marino.
“The humility of those people and what they did,” she said, her voice trailing off. “The servant hearts. In my whole career that is what I think I am most proud of. Working with [former San Marino resident and Bataan Death March survivor] Francis Barker. And Ed Blecksmith. All of those little stories that we learned about people that are so selfless. It was just one of those projects that was so beyond. How we honor our veterans and also our Memorial Day ceremony. Another day that is so unique. You can see it with the people who served. They speak with such humility.”
Though she may be entering the retirement phase of life, Collins is certainly not finished with public service.
“My heart has been pulled to the plight of the homeless,” she said. “I drive to work at 5:30 or 6:00 in the morning I can see where all the homeless people sleep. It’s the same people in the same places. I am really drawn to that. I don’t yet know what, but I want to do something.”
She will join her husband in the couple’s next chapter. Wes retired from the City of Newport Beach, where he was director of parks, beaches and recreation. Son Jack works in the city manager’s office in Chino Hills. And Caroline is attending Fullerton College and working towards a career in… “Community Government,” Collins said with a laugh. “Of course. It’s in our blood.”
Other goals?
“I am going to clean my house,” she joked. “I haven’t been home in a year.”
You’ve cleaned San Marino’s, Cindy, and we all owe you a debt of gratitude for that.
