Cynthia "Tia" Moore Bond was a lifelong civil servant known for her wit, passion for people and dedication to her community.

The former Honolulu human resources director, 64, died Saturday at her home after a long bout with cancer.

Bond was longtime deputy director of what today is the Department of Human Resources. She was director of the department from 1993 to 1997 under mayors Frank Fasi and Jeremy Harris.

"She had great communication skills mixed with wit and humor, and many accomplishments," said Karen Peterson, her longtime colleague at the department. "But I believe her greatest asset was that she truly cared about people."

Born in Kansas City, Mo., her family settled in Honolulu in the late 1950s. She graduated from Radford High School and the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, where she met her husband, Robin.

After graduation, she worked at the Employer's Council and later joined the City and County of Honolulu as deputy director of human resources. During her 26 years with the city, she served on numerous boards such as the Ethics Commission and the Employer's Association.

While serving on the East Honolulu vision team, she was responsible for developing several of the community's projects, including the Hanauma Bay Education Center and the Hawai'i Kai canoe halau. She also was deeply involved with Hawai'i's Blood Bank.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve manager Alan Hong credited Bond with successfully rallying support behind the Hanauma Bay Education Center in the 1990s when there was growing opposition to it.

"Cindy orchestrated a campaign that took the proposal to over a hundred different community groups, committees and organizations within a span of a few months," Hong said. "She set the example of how to make a difference in our community, and always did so with dignity, integrity and a smile in her heart."

And then there was Bond's previously anonymous involvement writing parody songs for the Society of Professional Journalists' benefit Gridiron show, which takes comical jabs at the news and newsmakers each year.

"She had that rare ability to poke fun without being mean-spirited," said KITV-4 reporter Keoki Kerr, the show's co-artistic director. "She could point out the emperor had few clothes without mocking the official or the government she served so well for so long. And she was kind and funny."

Bond is survived by her husband; daughter Liana Cosgrove; son Robin Bond Jr.; grandson Robin III; sisters Helen McMillan and Gini Moore; brother Roger Moore; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at the Newman Center Saturday at 11 a.m. Parking will be available at St. Francis School. In lieu of flowers, the family asks a donation be made to an organization of your choice. A private burial will be held at the National Cemetery of the Pacific.