Cindy Wickizer Remembered

Sad news came in that Cindy Wickizer passed away on July 13, 2026.   

Cindy was definitely a friend of Angoras. See Northern California Angora Guild: Judge Cindy has a Long History with the Angora.   She judged Angoras at the ARBA conventions 4 times: 1979, 1991, 2003 and 2008.   She judged Angora Nationals 4 times as well: 1986, 1990, 1998 and 2002. Out of the 8 times Cindy judged the major Angora shows, I was present in 7 out of 8 shows, the only one that I missed was 1979 as it was before my time.   

Cindy judges Angora at the 1979 ARBA convention.  Photo from Candy Haenszel's collection. 

  

I was lucky to have met Cindy in very early years of my English Angora journey.    In December 1985, English Angora tort senior doe Chu's Erica won my first ever Best In Show in an ARBA show.  At the time, all shows were single shows, there were over 1,800 rabbits in the showroom held at the Cal Expo.  And that was the first time I met Cindy, she was the Best In Show judge, and that was one of my most memorable show wins.   Wish I had a photo with her but it was not customary to have photos taken with the judge after a win.

In 1986 I ventured out of state to attend the Angora National in Washington state, Cindy judged:   Northern California Angora Guild: Remember When: Angora National in 1986

There were only 2 Angora breeds: English Angora and French Angora; Giant Angora and Satin Angora were yet to be recognized.  There were 250 English Angoras and 150 French Angoras at the showroom.  I was very lucky that my tort junior doe Chu's Vanessa was picked as the Best In Show at the 1986 Angora National.   

At the 1990 Angora National in Ventura, CA, Cindy once again judged.  By then there were 4 breeds of Angoras but the majority of the numbers were still in the breeds of English Angora and French Angora.   My white doe Chu's Jasmine was lucky to have been chosen as the Best In Show. See:
Northern California Angora Guild: Remember When: Angora National 1990


The next year, Cindy judged Angoras at the 1991 ARBA convention at Pomona, CA.   My doe Chu's Sweety Pie won BOB and my junior buck won BOSB.  There was no photo taken with Cindy but there are some photos of the rabbits and prizes in Northern California Angora Guild: Remember When: 1991 ARBA Convention Show Results and Prizes

1992 was a big year for Cindy who was elected ARBA president in 1989 and was re-elected into her second term.  Cindy was the first and only woman to have taken the position of ARBA president.   It was also a big year for the English Angora that became the first wool breed rabbit to have won a Best In Show at the ARBA convention.  The name of the Best In Show winner was Chu's Sweet Sixteen.   At that time, the honor and the trophy was awarded at the ARBA banquet, Cindy awarded me the Best In Show trophy on the stage.    It had been reported that Cindy liked to hold on to other's hand when she talked.  As you could see, that's what she was doing.   You can also see my happy face.   Wish that Chu's Sweet Sixteen was in the picture but rabbits were not welcome at the banquet.    Northern California Angora Guild: Convention Memories: 1992 ARBA Convention Best In Show

The next two Angora Nationals were held in 1998 at Reno and 2002 in Oregon, Cindy judged both.  1998 Best In Show winner was my blue doe Chu's Julia and 2002 Best In Show winner was my white doe Chu's Charice.   No picture was taken in 1998, only 3 pictures taken in 2002: Northern California Angora Guild: Remember When: 2002 Angora National in Oregon

Next two ARBA conventions that Cindy judged were in 2003 and 2008.  

Cindy picked my tort buck Chu's Ashton as the BOB at the 2003 ARBA convention and Ashton went on to win the Group.    See Northern California Angora Guild: Convention Memories: More about the 2003 ARBA Convention Group Winner

At the 2008 convention in Louisville, KY, Cindy judged Angoras for the last time.   My white buck Chu's Nolan was the lucky BOB winner.  Unfortunately no photo taken with Cindy.   

Cindy also came to CA to judge our local shows quite a bit.  It was always a treat to have spent time with her and had her judging Angoras.  

 

This is my last photo taken with Cindy at the 2017 ARBA convention in Indianapolis.  More than 30 years I had the privilege of calling Cindy a friend,  a fellow teacher,  an excellent judge for Angoras and gotten the chance to learn from her.  Thank you Cindy Wickizer for the great memories, will miss you.