Cerinda "Crindi" Loschinkohl, age 73, of Takoma Park, MD died on May 25, 2025 of complications due to lung cancer. She was born in Amherst, OH on October 5, 1951. Crindi was extremely smart, principled, disciplined, and determined. She was also loving, generous, patient, and so, so funny. Crindi never sought credit or attention, but she made an outsized impact on everything and everyone she touched.

Crindi was an immensely kind, big-hearted woman who made casseroles for the local soup kitchen, quilts for children in need, and financial contributions to numerous organizations that do important work here and around the world, and to progressive political groups.

An infinitely curious person, Crindi had many interests, and she was passionate about all of them. From elementary school throughout her entire life, she was a voracious reader. In college and beyond, Crindi was a committed feminist and progressive political activist. From the late 1970s until her illness, she pursued a passion for organic gardening. At midlife, she turned her enthusiasm for gardening into a career as a plant pathologist at the USDA, fulfilling a lifelong dream to become a scientist. Crindi loved tending to her sunny plot at the community garden and weeding her too-shady yard. Her love of organic gardening made her an environmentalist and a strong advocate for sustainable farming practices, and she lived by her principles: she refused to eat any meat or animal products at home or in restaurants unless she knew that they had been sustainably sourced. Crindi was also a devotee of Art Deco and Midcentury Modern architecture and design.

In retirement, Crindi taught herself how to quilt, a hobby that required vision, artistic flair, spatial sense, math skills, and the extraordinary patience and persistence needed to cut and sew little pieces of fabric. Her quilts were amazing, and she loved designing and making them.

Crindi is survived by a multitude of family and friends who loved her, including her life partner of 48 years, Deborah Chalfie; her children Richard Loschinkohl and Amalie Loschinkohl Ferguson (Mark); her grandchildren, Abby Ferguson, Avery Loschinkohl (Em Cowen), and Harley Frietsch (Alex Arzola); as well as Debbie's family, whom Crindi adopted, and they her: Debbie's mother Barbara Ratner, Debbie's siblings David Chalfie (Mark Demerly), Barry Chalfie, and Rachael Linton, nephews Keenan Fishman-Weills and Mallach Fishman, and cousin Leslie Natelson; and Crindi & Debbie's family of choice: Peg Levine and Dana Warner, Jesse Warner-Levine and Hallie Nickelson, their children Leni and Malcolm, and Hallie's mother, Maribeth Nickelson.

As was her wish, Crindi had a green burial at Serenity Ridge Cemetery. A celebration of life event is planned but not yet scheduled. In the meantime, in lieu of flowers, any contributions in her honor may be made to any of the following organizations:

Doctors without Borders

World Central Kitchen

Center for Food Safety

Planned Parenthood

American Cancer Society