Lucinda Ann “Cindy” Pfalzer, age 67, of Fenton, died Dec. 6, 2025. Cremation has taken place and services will be announced at a later date. Those desiring may make contributions to a charity of your choice in Cindy’s name.

Cindy was born Dec. 7, 1957, in Batavia, New York, the daughter of Richard H. and Rita M. (Wagner) Pfalzer. She was a 1975 graduate of Alexander High School in Alexander, New York; she received her B.S. from Ithaca College in 1979 and her M.A. and Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1984 and 1989, respectively. 

She joined the UM-Flint faculty as an assistant professor in 1986, and was promoted to associate professor in 1992, and professor in 1998. She completed an oncology clinical research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in 2001. She retired from active faculty status on Dec. 31, 2013.

Professor Pfalzer was a distinguished scholar in the field of physical therapy with special expertise in the areas of breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, oncology, and upper quadrant overuse injuries. She had a notable history of successfully securing research grants and published numerous articles in the leading peer-reviewed journals. 

From 2001-13, she served as the associate investigator on a prospective study to identify factors affecting morbidity following the diagnosis and treatment of patients with breast cancer. Professor Pfalzer’s research endeavors have provided clinically based guidance to healthcare reforms in oncology rehabilitation. 

She held several key administrative leadership positions including associate director for research and post professional education (1994-2012), director of the Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (2009-12), and interim director of the Department of Physical Therapy (2012-13). 

Professor Pfalzer was a gifted teacher and played an instrumental role in the introduction of the first doctoral program in physical therapy on the Flint campus in 2013. She was a fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), helped establish the APTA Oncology Section, and served as the section president. The Board of Regents saluted this distinguished physical therapy educator for her dedicated service by naming Lucinda A. Pfalzer professor emerita of physical therapy.

She is survived by her mother, Rita Greco of Port Orchard, Washington; siblings, Nicolette (Jim) Linneman of Maryville, Tennessee, Deborah (Barry) Newman of Houston, Henry Pfalzer of Pipe Creek, Texas, and Cris (Larry) Taylor of Hadlock, Washington; and several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Richard H. Pfalzer. Tributes may be shared at sharpfuneralhomes.com.