Chris (Christina) Ranz Cavin passed away on May 12, 2025, as the sun shone brightly and the full Flower Moon was crossing the sky. She was calm, and Tom was by her side, just as he has been for the last 54 years. She showed incredible strength and resilience through 16-plus years of cancer treatments, but it took a final toll on her body in the end. Chris’ calm, grounded presence radiated from her smile, and her giant welcoming heart made so many feel at home with her.
Chris was born in State College, Pa., but spent most of her childhood in Minneapolis, Minn., with her parents and three siblings, and they all enjoyed summers in Greensboro, Vt. She met her loving life partner, Tom Cavin, while in high school together at Breck School. She attended Smith College, and after graduation they married in Greensboro in June 1977. They moved around for Tom’s medical training, living in Boston, Mass.; Norwich, Vt.; and Iowa City, Iowa; and then moved to South Burlington, Vt., in 1984 with their three young children.
She was an avid tennis player and quickly developed lifelong friends at the Burlington Tennis Club and on her level 4.5 team, which went on to represent Vermont in a number of regional and national tournaments. Chris felt truly blessed by these friends and wanted to express deepest thanks to them for the joy they shared together on the courts and off for more than 40 years. Golden retrievers and Labs were another passion, and she often had a couple of these loving companions beside her on long walks. Her dogs also welcomed many litters of puppies that Chris made sure found happy homes in the local community.
Chris dedicated significant time to efforts and organizations that connected people to natural places. Her knowledge and passion for trails and bikes led her to advocate for, organize and spearhead the South Burlington Bike Path in the 1990s with her close friend Jill Coffrin. That path now connects neighborhoods, schools and towns. Chris dedicated time on the board of the Winooski Valley Park District from 1995 to 2009 and was chair for most of those years. She helped conserve some critical natural areas for public use, such as Colchester Pond. As a classroom volunteer, she shared her wonder of nature with Orchard Elementary School students. Chris loved the outdoors and enjoyed experiencing it with family and friends. Whether on the ski slopes at Stowe, sitting on the dock on Caspian Lake, on picnics at Barr Hill or long walks in the woods, she liked nothing more than sharing those peaceful times with loved ones.
Chris found great joy in raising her three children and actively supporting school activities and sports teams (soccer, tennis and skiing), making intricate Halloween costumes, providing snacks and sourdough bread for all, and connecting with others in the local community in South Burlington. Chris’ last 10 years included many visits with her grandchildren, rocking babies, holding little hands, reading books, immersing herself in imaginative worlds with them, playing with trains and trucks, walks together, and laughter. Chris’ laugh would make anyone around her smile, and her grandchildren all had deep love for their special “Nona.”
Chris was admired by many and shared and inspired examples of care and kindness toward others. She and her family give thanks to all the doctors who have helped her to live so long since her original diagnosis in 2008: Drs. Gilwee, Wong, Unger, Matulonis, Cheung, Winget, Spector, Cataldo and Steinthorsson. Chris is survived by her husband and life partner of 54 years, Tom Cavin (Shelburne, Vt.); children, Sara Cavin (Thetford, Vt.), Laura Cavin Bailey (Fayston, Vt.) and Alex Cavin (New York City); their spouses; grandchildren, Ada, Netta, Kaolin, Juna, Aiden, Esther and Max; siblings, Beth Riggs (Vic Riggs), Roger Ranz (Sally Ranz) and Jennifer Ranz; and many beloved extended family members.
A celebration of life for all who were touched by Chris is on Saturday, June 21, 2025, 2 p.m., at All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farm Rd., Shelburne, VT. In lieu of flowers please plant a tree or make a contribution to the Winooski Valley Park District. Checks may be mailed to Winooski Valley Park District, 1 Ethan Allen Homestead, Burlington, VT 05408, or sent online through Paypal by choosing “Specific Project” with the note “in memory of Chris Cavin”.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2025.