A sign hung on Valerie Cordero’s office door reading, “The best education you could get is at the feet of a senior citizen.” The quote is one she’s believed in most of her life.
“Their knowledge, their wisdom, their stories are all valuable to everybody,” said Cordero, who retired as Cornwall’s senior program director last week following a 20-year career. “I went to Catholic School and around the corner was a nursing home. As an activity once or twice a year we would go there to visit the senior citizens. We would make them cards, sing a couple of songs, and just sit and chit chat with them. I found I would go there on my own because I could see they were lonely and sad and I would spend time with them. I was maybe 9- or 10-years-old. I’ve always had a place in my heart for older people.”
When Cordero moved to Cornwall 32 years ago, she was a stay-at-home mom, raising three children. When her youngest turned four, she obtained a part-time job as a bus driver. During her free time she would visit the seniors at Munger Cottage. At the time there was no senior center, just a vibrant lunch program. Some would stick around and play BINGO or card games and Cordero became more involved.
When Helen Bunt was elected town supervisor, she allowed Cordero to start conducting craft activities with the seniors. For two years she served as a part-time employee and when the new administration was elected, she was brought on board full-time. From there, the senior program grew and the town received a grant to build an expansion onto Munger Cottage.
Self-taught as a coordinator of senior activities, Cordero essentially built Cornwall’s program from the ground up, something she’s proud of accomplishing.
“I’ve been told by the county that this is the best run senior center in Orange County,” she said.
Coming from Manhattan where there’s always something to do and places to go, Cordero found Cornwall was lacking in activities, especially for seniors.
“Other than the dining program and the Bingo games for a few hours a day, there was not much offered besides the town trips. Not everybody likes to go on a trip or sit and play Bingo. The senior population is younger now and they have more diverse interests in their activities. I said to myself, ‘if this is all there is to look forward to when I get older, it’s kind of sad. There has to be more.’ Between here, the library, the town recreation program, and the town trips that the Recreation Department provides, I think it’s come a long, long way.”
Over the past two decades, Cordeo has never had difficulty finding people to suggest and run affordable programs for seniors. Activities have included Zumba, Tai Chi, Yoga, and other exercise programs. County officials have stopped by Munger Cottage to run nutrition programs.
A number of years ago, the Hotsy Totsy Follies began rehearsing at the senior center. Cordero even spoke to other directors of recreation and senior programs to get ideas for activities.
Although Cordero and her husband are moving to Delaware, she says she’s not saying goodbye to the wonderful friends she’s made over the years. Her children still live in Cornwall, so she plans to visit every four to six weeks and plans to make frequent stops at Munger Cottage as well.
Officially retired, Cordero looks forward to traveling and just being able to spend more time doing the things she enjoys. This doesn’t mean she’ll fully adjust to her new life.
“I know myself. I’m giving myself a few months, but I’m sure I’ll find a part time job to keep myself busy. I like to be busy. I have an antsy personality. I have to be moving all the time. Just sitting is hard for me.”
Cordero knows the senior program is being left in the good hands of Laura Kirby and Phylis Murphy, the Recreation Department director and assistant director, but leaving is still emotional.
“As much as everybody will say that I’ve enriched their lives and I’ve been so good to them, what they really need to know is that they’ve enriched my life and have been good to me all these years as well. They have given me more than they realize.”
