Senior Lifetime Achievement Awards
Virginia
C. Moore
Slingerlands,
NY
Birth
Date: September
30, 1914
Faith
Community: Westminster
Presbyterian Church, Albany
Nominator:
Lois
Wilson, Westminster Presbyterian Church
Early
Life: Born
in Riverhead, Long Island, the youngest of two children, Virginia graduated
from high school in 1932 and from the Methodist-Episcopal School of
Nursing in Brooklyn in 1935. At age 15, Virginia was one of three pupils sent
by the Riverhead Congregational Church to a weeklong youth conference at the
Blair Academy, Blairtown, NJ. Virginia mentions her loving parents, her happy
marriage and her supportive family as the cornerstones in her life.
Family:
While
attending the School of Nursing, she met Dr. James Moore. They became engaged
at a University Club of Albany New Year's Eve celebration in late 1937. The
Moores were married at Grace Methodist Church in Brooklyn in 1938. During
World War 11, when he was in the armed forces in Europe, they wrote each other
daily.
Dr.
Moore, who died in 1982, was an internist in Albany for almost 40 years, with
his office on the first floor of their Western Avenue home. She was active in
his medical practice as a registered nurse and also dealt with business
requirements of the practice.
They
had three sons. James, a Rochester attorney, was 1998‑99 president of
the New York State Bar Association. Eric works with the Presbyterian Church,
USA Investment & Loan Program in Louisville, Kentucky. And Kenneth works
with the Power Systems of General Electric Company in Schenectady.
Virginia
has nine grandchildren and 15 great‑grandchildren. To them, Virginia is
a warm, inviting hostess and excellent cook. Like her mother, she always is
happy to entertain "at the drop of a hat."
Career:
Before she married, Virginia worked for three years
at the Methodist Episcopal Hospital in Brooklyn, first as Assistant Supervisor
of the Women's Surgical Ward and then as Supervisor of the Emergency Ward. She
later worked in her husband's practice.
Volunteer
Activities: An
active volunteer in Albany for more than 60 years, Virginia was highly
energetic, well organized and blessed with good health and keen analytic
skills. She often led the organizations to which she belonged. She is a life
member of the Mothers' Association of the Albany Academy, from which her three
sons graduated. She also is past president of the Mothers' Association.
In
1938, Mrs. Moore was a founding member of the Albany County Medical Social
Auxiliary. She volunteered weekly for Red Cross Bloodmobile service, begun
during World War 11. In 1967 and 1968 Virginia was president of the New York
State Medical Society Auxiliary. Governor Rockefeller appointed her to the
State Health Manpower Commission in 1969 and 1970.
Through
January 2000 Virginia was a volunteer at the Albany Institute of History &
Art. She has given more than 25 years of service to the Institute. A member of
Albany's Westminster Presbyterian Church for 62 years, Virginia was a Sunday
school teacher when her children were young. She also has been elected to
three Church boards: she served for six years as an Elder on the Session
(governing board), six on the Board of Deacons (of which she was moderator),
and six on the Board of Stewards.
Senior
Activities: Mrs.
Moore has remained very active at Westminster. Her warm hospitality is
evident. She has entertained all visiting preachers who have participated in
the Distinguished Preacher Series established in Dr. Moore's memory. In 1986
she accompanied the Westminster Presbyterian Church Choir on a tour of Great
Britain's cathedrals. She was a co-chair of the last church fair. She also has
served on the Worship Committee and helped to select a weekly lector. In June
2000 Virginia was elected to the Pastoral Nominating Committee, which will
select the next senior pastor.
Virginia
has a wide circle of friends. She is an avid bridge player and belongs to a
Bible study group. She is a person upon whom others often depend both for
transportation and for event organization. Always a caregiver, Virginia now is
a strong advocate for a 96-year-old sightless woman she met through a cousin -
assists in paying bills, doing personal shopping and dealing with the
administrator of an adult home on her behalf.