I appreciated Randy Chapman's "Publisher's Pick" about Charlie Moore (Aug. 20) and the contributions he made in our community over the years. Charlie and his wife, Zelda, are leaving for new opportunities in Milwaukee.
In addition to Charlie's contributions, I think it is important to recognize the positive impact Zelda had on the lives of students in our public high schools. Zelda worked primarily with students of color whose life challenges would have daunted even the strongest among us. She was a mentor, tutor and coach for children who often are overlooked and underestimated.
Zelda arranged college visits and developed programs and connections for her students in their schools, as well as in the larger community. Her support opened up a world of opportunity most of her students would have had no other way of knowing existed. She helped many finish high school and move on to successful post-secondary opportunities.
Zelda took time to nominate many of these promising young people for Outstanding Youth Awards sponsored by the Rochester-Olmsted Youth Commission, and they were almost always selected as award winners for their leadership, personal growth and commitment to others.
Zelda was an amazing role model for youth in Rochester, and thankfully for all of us, she knew encouragement, attention and the occasional pat on the back from a caring adult can change a life.
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Mary Conboy Gorfine
Rochester
