Obituary of Gloria P. Moon

Gloria P. Moon Gloria P. Moon died peacefully May 24, 2009 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center after a brief illness. Born in the Bronx on May 25, 1931, she was the only child of Charles and Beatrice Brew Paterno. She is survived by her husband, Robert C. Moon of Wappingers Falls; her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Ronald Orlando, Jr. of Millerton; son, Robert T. Moon of Wappingers Falls and several nieces and nephews. Gloria graduated from Syracuse University in 1957 and worked as a registered nurse prior to raising her children. She also sang professionally in a singing group called "The GirlFriends" in the 1950s. She moved with her husband and children from the Syracuse area to Wappingers Falls in 1968. As a parent of an autistic child, she became an advocate for the developmentally disabled. She served as president of the Mid-Hudson Chapter of the National Society for Autistic Children in the 1960s and 1970s, running summer camps and Saturday programs when few other services existed. She was a founding board member and served as Vice President of the Board for Greystone Programs, Inc. which opened the first group home in New York State for autistic men in 1979. Gloria played a key part in the formation of the first class for autistic children at Dutchess County Boces, at a time when autistic children attended school at Hudson River Psychiatric Center. Her efforts helped challenge the education system, changing the laws allowing autistic children the entitlement to public education. She was a devoted mother and loving wife who will be greatly missed. Services will be private Memorial donations in Gloria's name may be made to Greystone Programs, Inc., 36 Violet Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Arrangements are under the direction of Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 E. Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. To send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.