Cynthia Dorfman celebrated a century of life

Cynthia Dorfman (née Breakstone) celebrated a milestone achieved by few — she turned 100 years old. She celebrated alongside her family and the staff at her home of Atria Park in Lynbrook.

Born on Jan. 15, 1924, in Manhattan, Dorfman entered the world as the eldest of four siblings. A lifelong learner, she began her academic journey at New York University, a path briefly paused by meeting her future husband, Lawrence Dorfman, on February 20, 1944.

The early years of Cynthia and Lawrence’s marriage were nomadic — the couple followed Lawrence’s pursuits in dental school and his service in the Korean War in a M.A.S.H. Unit. During these travels, Cynthia became a mother to two sons, Drew and Mark. In 1954, the family laid down roots in Fresh Meadows, Queens.

Cynthia’s thirst for knowledge rekindled in 1968 when she embarked on a career in education, teaching English at Bayside High School. Her intellectual pursuits didn’t stop there as she earned a Master of Science in Education from St. John’s University in 1973. Cynthia’s 17-and-a-half-year tenure as an educator concluded with her retirement in 1986, leaving behind a legacy of inspired students and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Post-retirement, Cynthia, alongside her beloved “Larry,” indulged in their shared passion for travel. The pair explored every continent multiple times over their 73 years together. They built their dream home in Goshen, CT, where the entire family would gather to create memories. Cynthia’s lifelong interest in the arts prompted her to become a docent at the New Britain Museum of American Art. Their love story, and their shared passion for adventure, continued until Lawrence’s passing in 2017.

Cynthia returned to New York to be closer to her family: her son Mark (d. 2020), his wife Roseanne, their children and spouses — Jason and his wife Demi, and Sarah and her husband Matthew. Cynthia cherished her great-grandsons, Leonardo and Giovanni. She has since been an integral part of the Atria Park community, where she now lives — she even broke a world record on their crew team, a testament to her enthusiasm for life and adventure.