Cindy Saul, founder of Southfield-based spirituality publication PhenomeNews, dies at 77
Editor's note: An earlier version of this article misstated Cindy Saul's name. The Free Press regrets the error.
Cindy Saul, the founder and editor of PhenomeNews, died on July 10 in Royal Oak after a brief illness. She was 77.
Saul is remembered by friends and colleagues as a fun-loving, kind person. She served as founder and editor of the Southfield-based monthly publication focused on spirituality and healing for over 30 years.
Saul founded PhenomeNews in 1975, after a spiritual experience brought on by the deaths of her mother and two aunts within a short time span, said Saul's wife Kim Seer. Saul started researching spirituality and went on to teach a night course at Schoolcraft College. Soon after, she began compiling her knowledge into the publication.
"Cindy had a servant's heart and, in everything that she did, her desire to help connect people to information, to knowledge, to activities around in her community and then the greater world at large was such a focus for her," Seer said.
Friends and family said Saul carried a positive energy in her life, and enjoyed smiling, laughing and helping others. They said she used her passion for spirituality to inform others, providing people with knowledge and resources.
"She wasn't afraid to take chances and to have fun. She really loved to have fun and laugh," said former colleague Theresa Magee.
At its peak, PhenomeNews published over 165,000 copies monthly, serving readers across Michigan and Canada.
Friend and former colleague Judy Vosburgh worked for Saul for 7 years, seeking out a job after reading a copy of the publication. She said Saul fostered a positive work atmosphere at PhenomeNews, calling her co-workers "family of the heart."
"She was always, always smiling. It was so refreshing to be around someone who wanted to teach and wanted to also learn from you," Vosburgh said. "She had the best positive energy of anybody ever, so being around her made you feel better about yourself."
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Saul retired in 2008, as changes in the media industry drove up the costs of publication and led to new changes in technology.
"She said 'I've got the whole format established and I think it's time for me to pass all of this on to the next generation of publishers, those who have the inspiration and have the calling to come and move forward from there,'" Seer said.
Magee worked for Saul for 10 years and said she appreciated Saul's positive, easygoing attitude in the workplace.
"She was probably the kindest person I know, she was very non-judgmental," Magee said.
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A private celebration of life will be held on Aug. 26.
"She was a central part of our family's heart, she meant everything to us," Seer said.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cindy Saul, founder of spirituality publication PhenomeNews, dies
