Rebecca Moscoso: Retired? No Way!
Born in Newport News, Virginia, Rebecca left there at the age of 17 to go to Mary Washington College. She got married in ’62 and says she was, “oblivious to it all as a young mother.” She dropped out of MWC, but returned to school when her son, Chris, was four years old. Rebecca went on to earn a Masters’ and a Ph.D. After many years working around the DC beltway in different school districts and universities, she retired a second time, and moved to the beach in January 2010, with her partner, Maggie Kilroy, who works for the State of Delaware as a nurse supervisor.
A year later, Rebecca unretired again, and she now works for Children and Families First, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help families develop solutions to meet challenges and embrace opportunities. In addition to CAMP Rehoboth, she also volunteers for the American Association of University Women, and AARP.
Rebecca has three “terrific children married to three wonderful spouses”: Andrea and Michael; Roddy and Vickie; and Chris and Kristen. She has six grandchildren: Courtney, Meghan, Nick, Ethan, Abby and Sofia. They all live in the metro DC/Baltimore area and visit her, Maggie, and their maltipoo, Petey, often here at the beach.
When/why did you start volunteering at CAMP Rehoboth?
Coming down to the beach over all these years I wanted to participate in CAMP Rehoboth, but vacations were always so short, and I didn’t make the time. As soon as I retired here I started attending CAMP events and soon decided I wanted to volunteer. I’m living in the part of my life now where I’m done with ambition and accomplishments and will only do what I want to do. I can still work hard for what I believe in, and I believe in CAMP and what it has done for the community at large, for our LGBTQ community, and what we still need to do to maintain where we are and make the world safe for diversity.
What’s been your best memory volunteering here?
Draping tables with Murray and Rachel, a new friend I met volunteering for Women’s FEST. Murray has this “way” with the tablecloth draping. He’s a wonderful teacher, patient and kind, but the actual linens are cantankerous and often refuse to lay out correctly on the tables!
What does CAMP Rehoboth mean to you?
As I left my marriage and started a fledgling life as a lesbian, I lived with lies. I felt like a hypocrite, closeted at work and with family and friends. I struggled with making up the new me. It took years to join the two parts of my lives together, and to stop telling the lies. CAMP Rehoboth is the place where I feel totally at peace and the place where every gay and lesbian and questioning person can come and just be who they are. CAMP is truly my home with my heart in it—our CAMP logo.
What events/activities have you been involved with at CAMP?
Women’s FEST, Volunteer Orientation Workshops, Volunteer Development Committee, and the Volunteer Appreciation Party. Maggie has helped by doing the AV work for the workshops. Maggie recently joined the Program Committee at CAMP. We’re looking forward to doing more with our CAMP friends and making new ones!
If you could spend a full day with one person, who would it be? Why?
I would like a full day with my dad, Lionel Wyatt, who passed away in 2004. We had a hard time talking in his later years as he had lost so much hearing, but he was a kind and loving man, a self-made man. If we had that day, we would spend it fishing on his boat, the Kingfisher, on the Rappahannock River in Virginia, just hanging out.
“Wouldn’t you like to be a CAMPer too?” How would you encourage someone to get involved with us?
In the past I had heard that CAMP was a clique, where people would go and not feel a part of anything. My experience absolutely contradicts that. From the first time I walked up those steps and opened the front door, to today, I’ve always been welcomed with a greeting and a smile. When volunteering I’m supported by the long-time CAMP members and enjoy figuring out what to do with new volunteers. It’s really fun! I’d also encourage everyone to attend a Volunteer Orientation Workshop. You learn a bit about CAMP, its history, current activities and connections to the community, and meet new people. When you leave that day we hope you will feel that the CAMP logo—heart and home—is yours as well.
What else do you like to do in your spare time?
I visit a buddy in the Atlantic Shores rehabilitation facility and am in my neighborhood book club. I read voraciously and love doing acrostics. I chair the Issues and Action committee of the Coastal-Georgetown AAUW and am involved in many of their service and lobbying opportunities. I enjoy doing grandparent-type events in the DC area, and love hanging out at the beach with family and friends.
What’s your favorite thing to do in the off season?
I love to eat out when there are no lines, to drive the streets when there’s no traffic, and to park without feeding meters. I love the quiet of the beach in winter.
Where was your last vacation destination and what influenced you to go there?
Maggie and I went to the Canadian Rockies last summer and returned to Calgary to attend the Calgary Stampede, something I had always wanted to do. This year we’re going with all the kids and grandkids to Ecuador, where their father was born. This will be the first time the whole family has gone back together since he passed away. I’ve always encouraged the children to maintain connections with the family in Ecuador, and keep their bilingual/bicultural roots.
Civil Unions became law and went into effect as of January 1 of this year. Do you see you and your partner exercising your new right? If so, details please!
Both sides of the family including sibs, nieces, nephews, kids, babies, etc. are descending over Memorial Day weekend to celebrate our wedding day on May 26. Three grandchildren are in the ceremony. With four ministers in the family, we picked one of my sisters to officiate the ceremony. It was a loving and heartfelt process planning the actual ceremony with her…lots of happy tears. It will be held in the upstairs room at Irish Eyes in Lewes, with an after-party at our house. Family will start arriving on Thursday, and there is a big family dinner on Friday night. It should be incredible!
Who’s your favorite current musician or entertainer? Who’s your favorite of all-time?
Current? Can’t pick, there are too many good ones. Long-time favorite? Bette Midler. There’s a part of me that absolutely delights in outrageousness, so she’s my gal! Of course, Barbra runs a close second!
What is the last book you’ve read? Your all-time favorite?
I can’t remember the name of the last book I read. I’m always into the book I’m currently reading. There’s no way to pick an all time favorite, so I’ll mention a couple. I adore Isabel Allende’s novels, especially The House of the Spirits, and of course, Barbara Kingsolver and her latest, The Lacuna. As a girl I loved Judy Bolton and Nancy Drew, and now I love reading all the books about aging female detectives. They’re spunky and determined, and I’m a wannabe.
You may be a wannabe detective, Rebecca, but you are definitely an active and incredibly valuable volunteer at CAMP Rehoboth. Since meeting you as part of the original Volunteer Orientation Development Committee, I’ve been continually impressed with your dedication, enthusiasm, and quality of work. We thank you, and Maggie, very much for all you contribute here.
Know someone whose efforts should be considered for the CAMP Rehoboth Volunteer Spotlight? Email your suggestion.
