Cecile Springer, a noted community leader, passed away on March 24, 2025; beloved wife of the late Eric W. Springer Esq.; mother of Christina Springer (Norman Nunley, Jr.), and the late Brian Springer; grandmother of Nia Springer Norris, Maryn Springer, Winston Nunley, Daja Springer, and Brian Springer, Jr.; great-grandmother of Kristin, Bethany, and Eric.
Mrs. Springer was committed to education, having graduated from Hunter College High School, New York City. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York; a master’s degree in chemistry from Wellesley College; and a master’s in urban and regional planning from the University of Pittsburgh. She also received an honorary doctorate from Seton Hill College in Greensburg, PA.
Early in her career, Mrs. Springer was a research chemist for Bristol Myers Laboratory and Schering Pharmaceuticals, focusing on product development and invention of new pharmaceuticals. In 1974, she joined Westinghouse Electric Corporation as manager of product development for the Advanced Energy Systems Division. From 1978 to 1989, she served as director of Contributions and Community Affairs and as president of the Westinghouse Foundation, managing its global contributions portfolio.
Devoted to community development, Mrs. Springer co-founded the Women and Girls Foundation to empower women to address community issues with their resources. To promote inclusivity, she collaborated with leaders from the University of Pittsburgh and St. Paul Cathedral to establish the Race and Reconciliation Dialogue Group.
Mrs. Springer held leadership roles in the NAACP, the League of Women Voters, and the Alumni Association of the University of Pittsburgh, serving as President in 1991. She was an Emerita member of the Board of Trustees of Pennsylvania State University and served on the Boards of Trustees of Carlow University and Slippery Rock University. In 1990, she was elected President of the Alumni Association of the University of Pittsburgh. She also served on the Boards of Directors of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
In the course of her many involvements, she has been recognized by awards: Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania awarded by Governor Milton Shapp; Carlow University ‘Woman of Spirit’; Legacy Laureate of the University of Pittsburgh in 2002; ARCS Light Award in 2010; the Inaugural Red Ribbon Award in 2009; Racial Justice Award in 2011 from the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh by the Center for Race and Gender Equity for Community Engagement; Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice awarded to Cecile and Eric Springer; the 2012 Nellie Leadership Award in Civic Engagement from Three Rivers Youth to Cecile and Eric Springer; the 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of PIttsburgh African American Alumni Council for distinguished advancement of education for African American students; and the 2017 Woman of Achievement Spirit of the 19th Amendment Award from Celebrate and Share whose mission is, in part, to highlight the history and achievements of women. In 2018, she was recognized by the Metro-Urban Institute of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary as a Urban Community Partner honoree and by the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the 2018 National Philanthropy Day Awardee.
Friends will be received at John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc. 4900 Centre Avenue at Devonshire Street on Tuesday April 1, 2025 from 5-8pm. Funeral Wednesday April 2, 2025, Mass of Christian Burial St. Paul Cathedral 10:00AM. freyvogelfuneralhome.com
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