HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 86 Offered February 23, 2007 Celebrating the life of Cynthia Saraniti Upson. ----------
Patrons-- Waddell, Cox, Dance, Hall, Ingram, McClellan, Nixon, O'Bannon, Poisson and Ware, R.L.
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WHEREAS, Cynthia Saraniti Upson, a public relations consultant specializing in the electronics industry, died on February 17, 2007, after a courageous battle with cancer; and

WHEREAS, a native of Ohio, Cynthia Upson earned a bachelor's degree in communications from American University in 1985, and after graduating, she joined the communications department at the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), a trade association in Arlington that represents more than 2,100 companies within the U.S. consumer technology industry; and

WHEREAS, in 1991, Cynthia Upson was promoted to vice president of communications and strategic relations at the CEA, a role that included working for the marketing division of the International CES, the nation's largest consumer technology trade show; and

WHEREAS, Cynthia Upson moved to Richmond in 1998 when her husband, Donald W. Upson, became Virginia's Secretary of Technology, and she continued as a consultant to the CEA; and

WHEREAS, Cynthia Upson was invaluable in the implementation of some of the CEA's most successful public relations campaigns and was widely recognized throughout the consumer electronics industry for her intelligence, creativity, warmth, and passion for her work; and

WHEREAS, Cynthia Upson helped turn the concept of home theater into household words; she played a key role in making digital television a success in the marketplace; and she helped make the International CES a "must-cover" event for news media around the world; and

WHEREAS, a consummate professional and diplomatic strategist, Cynthia Upson led the development of award-winning public relations campaigns in support of industry initiatives on the V-chip, portable audio, home theater, and mobile electronics; and

WHEREAS, in addition to helping launch several CEA publications, including Vision magazine and the HDTV Guide, Cynthia Upson was a founding member of the Academy of Digital Television Pioneers; and

WHEREAS, Cynthia Upson used her professional skills and personal passion in volunteer work with a number of organizations, including the Lung Cancer Alliance, the University of Virginia Center for Politics, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art; and

WHEREAS, Cynthia Upson will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by her husband and daughter, her brothers and parents, and many dear friends and colleagues; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Cynthia Saraniti Upson; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Cynthia Saraniti Upson as an expression of the House of Delegates' respect for her memory.