Cyrus Wellman

Cyrus Robinson Wellman, born on December 27, 1942, passed away on August 19, 2022 after spending his last summer on his beloved La Salle Island in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Cy received an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Michigan and later, an MBA from the same institution. He was a life-long, die-hard fan of the Wolverines and never grew tired of watching them play football and basketball.

While at Michigan, Cy met Susan Crawford from Erie, PA at the Michigan Daily student newspaper where they both worked as undergrads.  They married in 1966 and enjoyed a robust and fulfilling 56 years together.

Cy’s business career spanned 30+ years of owning and operating three small business’ in Erie, PA and Rochester, NY; he was dedicated to his customers and employees and worked hard for their success.  He also enjoyed donating his time to numerous volunteer positions including many years of serving on the boards of directors for the YMCA of Greater Erie, the Rotary Club, and Reed Manufacturing.

Cy’s true passion lay in the pursuit of athletic endeavors. He was an accomplished cyclist, runner, and cross-country skier, and he competed in countless triathlons well into his sixth decade of life. Amongst his many accomplishments was finishing in the top 25 at the World Triathlon Championships in both 2008 and 2009. In the winter months, he shifted to cross-country skiing, and he competed in countless Worldloppet races all over the world. Some of Cy’s greatest memories were of the “biCYcling” weeks-long tours he planned for his group of cycling friends for many years.

Another of Cy’s passion was travel. He loved visiting his extended family of former exchange students, and he and Sue took two mini “sabbaticals” in Italy and Spain. In addition to extensive travel in Europe, he traveled to Japan, Mexico and New Zealand.

Cy’s favorite months of each year were spent on La Salle Island in Cedarville, Michigan where he and Sue started visiting even before they were married.  They purchased their first cottage there before they even purchased their first home, and there was only one summer they failed to visit.   One of Cy’s greatest projects was designing and building what would become a family compound, and after retiring his island time every summer was extended to include the late spring and much of the fall. He loved walking through the woods, swimming in the ice cold lake, doing endless chores, and watching the boats moored in the bay and sailing past his cottage. He instilled his love of the island in all his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Susan Crawford Wellman; his son, Adam Wellman in Ann Arbor, Michigan; and his daughter, Nicole Werner, in Portland, Oregon; and his five beloved grandchildren Lena Werner, Destin Wellman, Zoe Werner, Kai Werner, and Cullen Wellman. He also leaves behind more than a dozen foreign exchanges students whom he considered family.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday August 27th at 2pm at Burton Quinn Scott Cremation & Funeral Services, West Ridge, 3801 West 26th St. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Cy's memory to the Les Cheneaux Community Foundation at www.lcicf.org.