Empowered Together, April 2026 — Love stories are always profoundly moving because they remind us of what (I believe) is most important in life — two souls finding each other and holding hands through thick and thin, until death do they part.
Below, you’ll find such a magical story from our dear Inkandescent friend and partner Cynthia de Lorenzi, an artist, activist, entrepreneur, and founder of the international women’s group Success in the City: Cynthia.art.
What always amazes me about this truly amazing woman is her effervescence, humor, and the joy she brings to everyone she meets. Of course, we wouldn’t imagine this powerhouse with anyone but a truly amazing man. Larry Nelson was that gentleman. He bought elegant clothes for Cynthia to wear to events with legislators and her posse, cared for her children as if he were their father, made all of her girlfriends feel beautiful and special (he bought me a necklace that said Hope just because he saw it in a shop and thought I’d like it; Cynthia has one, too!).
His battle with cancer was long and painful, and Cynthia never left his side. She remained hopeful and vigilant to the end, which sadly was last Sunday. The details of death are never as important as the legacy left behind. With Cynthia, Larry will live on. And the thousands of people who love them both will be here to support her and cherish his memory.
Scroll down to read Cynthia’s tribute to Larry on Facebook. Grab a tissue.
Stacy LaMotta, founder, Southern Delaware Wine Festival
And don’t miss our monthly Empowered Together webinar where our members open their hearts, minds, and lives to discuss a topic that touches them deeply. This month’s courageous conversation is no exception.
Up next: We look forward to having you join us on May 7. Our dear friend Stacy LaMotta shares her journey as the founder of the Southern Delaware Wine Festival — and how she has kept the organization going as she copes with a life-threatening illness.
Reserve your free spot on Eventbrite. Learn more about Stacy here.
Cynthia and Larry in New Mexico
October 17, 2025: Cynthia writes on Facebook — It is with a broken heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Larry Nelson.
Our love language was humor! It wasn’t his good looks, success, and sports cars that attracted me to him. It was his beautiful, gracious soul, a twinkle in his eyes to match one of the best senses of humor of anyone I’ve ever known. He was my George Burns, and I was his Gracie — our laughter was the soundtrack of our life together.
He loved me, our children, and our granddaughter fiercely and unconditionally. He was generous, loyal, and blessed with a wit quicker than someone could draw a gun in a Western. He loved his friends dearly, but he had a special fondness for all my girlfriends — not in a salacious way, but in the way that only a man truly confident in himself can be. He was endlessly delighted, amused, and inspired by the brilliance, sass, and sparkle of the incredible women in our lives.
Larry’s father passed away in a fire when Larry was just 18 months old. I’ve always believed much of his humor, resilience, and charm came from his mother, who raised her children with grit, love, and a hearty dose of folksy humor. She taught him to face life with a joke, a wink, and an open heart — lessons he carried through every day of his life.
Before moving into technology, Larry had a long career as a stockbroker and Vice President at Prudential Securities. Later, he reinvented himself and found his calling helping businesses with their computer networks. He was as clever with circuits and servers as he was with punchlines. He told the best “dad jokes” — though our granddaughter Isabel often reminded me, “Poppi is way funnier than you, Didi,” and she’s absolutely right.
Larry was the love of my life — my partner in laughter, mischief, travel, and everything in between. The world feels somber without his quick wit and gentle presence, but I know his humor, generosity, and love will echo through all of us who were lucky enough to know him. I’ll share details soon about how we plan to celebrate his remarkable life. For now, please keep Larry — and our family — in your thoughts and hearts.
If you really want to honor him, tell someone a terrible dad joke today. He’d love that.
Click here to follow Cynthia on Facebook • Learn more: Cynthia.art