Meet Your Neighbor… Cyndi Morrow

By DONNA NICKEL

Much of Cyndi Morrow’s adult life has been spent getting people where they need to go. In transportation terminology, this entrepreneur, community volunteer and charity founder is a hub. She’s lived her life in one place, but for decades, she’s sent thousands on journeys ranging from the mundane trips to school or the grocery store, to joy-filled adventures of a lifetime.
A 1964 graduate of Glenwood High School, she attended Oberlin College for a short time, then returned to Canton to work at William Tell Cadillac & Oldsmobile at 14th and Market St. She spent 12 years at the dealership moving up from cashier to accounts payable to secretary for the new car manager.
Moving on to the Akron Canton Airport, she worked briefly for a flight school scheduling students before hiring on with Air CAMIS, a maintenance facility at the airport for corporate and private aircraft. “It was a one girl office. I did everything.” She stayed there for 12 years before taking a job as a charter coordinator for an FBO (Fixed Base Operation), a small terminal for private and corporate aircraft at the airport.
A variety of celebrities used the terminal’s facilities while in the Canton area. Cyndi met many of them, including Andy Williams, Jon Bon Jovi, Jack Nicholas, and Tipper Gore. “Everyone was really nice.”
Cyndi left the company when they asked her to transfer to Cleveland. “At that point, I decided to start my own business because if I was going to work that hard I thought I’d like to work for myself.” While watching the Today Show, a story about a children’s transportation service in Virginia caught her attention and she called the company for information. In 1992, she and her friend John Walter partnered to establish the area’s first child transportation service, Koala Kruizers. “I figured if I could dispatch airplanes all over the U.S., I could dispatch vans around Canton,” she said, adding, “John came up with the name because I’m a teddy bear nut and we wanted a friendly, warm name because we started primarily with children in mind.” Koala Kruizers has private clients as well as school systems, special needs and daycares.
A little over a year into the business Cyndi was doing a presentation at a school when a cafeteria worker approached her and told her how she had trouble getting her elderly father to doctors appointments. “That’s when the adult business began.” Koala Kruizers continues to offer adult daycare and private transportation to a number of places including medical appointments, beauty salons, classes, clubs, grocery stores and social visits.
A softy for animals, Cyndi recently added pet transportation services to veterinarians, groomers, and kennels, even offering a wheelchair lift for dogs with limited mobility.
The business started with one minivan and one long van. Now Koala Kruizers runs eight minivans, one mini bus and five wheelchair accessible vans. “We get to know our clients and get very attached to them. They become like a second family.”
Cyndi will still drive if a schedule conflict crops up, but for the most part she coordinates rides from the comfort of her cozy office near the corner of N. Main and Applegrove St. With scented candles, teddy bears in every nook and cranny, framed photos of family and friends, and knick-knacks perched on every available shelf space, Cyndi views her office as a “home away from home.” “Snickers” Cyndi’s ever-present 11-year-old American Cocker Spaniel completes the scene. In honor of his birthday each year, she serves up Snickers Bars with lit candles to everyone in the office. She’s obviously sweet on her pup. When asked if “Snickers” travels well, she promptly answered, “Snickers” does everything well.”
Her 22-year-old niece Lauren, a senior at Miami University of Ohio also holds a special space in her heart. “She’s my pride and joy and I guess you could say I spoil her rotten.”
With no children of her own, Cyndi has taken on the role of fairy godmother to many youngsters over the past 25 years. She was moved to tears by a television show about an Arizona woman who found a way to fulfill her ill son’s dream of being a highway patrolman. After the boy died, the mother started a wish granting service for other sick children. “That story touched me so much.” In 1982, she and her friend Linda Lippert started Wishes Can Happen an all-volunteer, local organization governed by a 14-member board, supported by donations and fundraisers. Since it’s inception, Wishes Can Happen has granted over 1,000 wishes to children with life threatening conditions. “It’s so rewarding and fulfilling. These kids have given me so much courage and strength in my own life.” She’s quick to point out that Wishes Can Happen is not just for children with terminal diseases. “We’ve seen lots of miracles. We get so attached to these kids, we love keeping up with them.”
Though not a huge sports fan, Cyndi enjoys her involvement with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Festivities. She has serves on committees for the Grand Parade and Community Parade and is chairperson for the 2007 and 2008 Concert and Fireworks. “On Hall of Fame committees I’ve met so many nice people. It’s fun to watch it all come together into that big, wonderful weekend.” She also recently served as judge in the Miss Northeast Ohio Pageant, the preliminary to Miss. Ohio.”
Cyndi was recognized for her contributions to the community when in 2001 she was inducted into the Plain Local School Districts Hall of Distinction. She was also named
Junior League Woman of the Year, receiving the 2003-2004 President’s Award.
She credits her 97-year-old mother Mary Helen with instilling in her a strong sense of volunteerism. “I think I’ve done the things I’ve done because of her influence. She was always the first to show up with a kettle of soup if someone needed it. Her kind heart made me want to volunteer.”