68 y.o. devotes life to helping others
Published: May 4, 2005
Throughout county, volunteer helps homeless, indigent, sick.
To some, volunteering is a hobby. To Bob Moore it is a way of life. He first became involved in volunteering in 1994 while living in Santa Monica, Calif., and has been doing it ever since. Now he has devoted his life to helping others and couldn’t be happier.
“This seems to be the thing I’m supposed to be doing right now,” he said.
Moore, 68, is an active volunteer throughout Palm Beach County. He is on the board of St. George’s Center in Riviera Beach, and through the center, he helps feed the homeless and the less fortunate. The center is comprised of 18 churches of different denominations and 13 Kiwanis clubs. He said that in the past year they have served almost 75,000 meals and the center has logged just under 7,000 volunteer hours.
As an active member at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, Moore has been involved in many of its volunteer programs. He makes sandwiches weekly and hot meals every other week to help feed the homeless. As a member of the church’s flower ministry, he delivers flowers to homebound and hospitalized people. He also takes communion to hospitals for those who are gravely ill.
Moore recently returned from a trip to Honduras doing missionary and outreach work at an orphanage of 75 girls, most of whom are abused or neglected. He sponsors a 16-year-old girl there and sends her cards and money to support her education. He writes to her in Spanish and she is learning English to write to him. He said he chose her because older girls in Honduras need more help.
In addition to his work with children and those less fortunate, Moore has also been involved in the Sovereign Order of St. John’s Hospitalers, which packages items once a month for service members in Iraq.
An avid fan of the arts, Moore was elected to serve as chaplain of the Boca/Delray Music Society and helps students with scholarships to college so they can continue their musical education. He said he wants to help talented children who might not be able to get the education they need. He feels that the arts provide wonderful entertainment and are especially abundant in South Florida.
“We are fortunate to be in Palm Beach County,” he said. “This is a fabulous place to live.”
A Florida native, Moore grew up in Delray Beach. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Virginia and said that the liberal arts education is a rewarding one for any field. He planned to go to law school but instead went on to earn an MBA from the University of Michigan.
Moore, a widow, has a grown son and daughter. He has worked as a strategic and management consultant for Fortune 500 companies and also has been president of a pharmaceutical company. Work has taken him to many states and countries. He has lived in North Carolina, Michigan, Illinois, Puerto Rico and California, but Delray Beach always will be home. He returned seven years ago.
“Like an old sea turtle, I came back,” he said. “I love it here.”
If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
“The Greek Isles would be on my wish list next.”
Who inspires you?
“Jesus Christ is truly who inspires me.”
How do you want to be remembered?
“As a person who made a contribution. Somebody who counted.”
If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you take with you?
“A Bible, a dictionary and a magic lamp for three more wishes. Wouldn’t that be the way to go?”
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