Joan Acosta

Joan Kent Acosta VIRGINIA BEACH - Joan Kent Acosta, 77, passed away on May 26, 2010 after living a full and vibrant life. She leaves to honor and cherish her memory her daughter, Patricia Van Scoyoc; son, James Van Scoyoc and wife Beth; grandchildren, Kent, Kara, and Cooper of Virginia Beach; son, Edward Van Scoyoc and wife Amy of Springfield, Va.; daughter, Kathleen Van Scoyoc and husband Nicholas Vandergrift; and grandchildren, Jessica and Christopher Powell of Norfolk. Joan was born May 14, 1933 in Brooklyn, N.Y. She received her registered nursing diploma from Kings County Hospital School of Nursing in Brooklyn, N.Y., and then married Ensign James Van Scoyoc in 1954, a year after his graduation from the Naval Academy. Joan was an enthusiastic Navy wife and their duty assignments included the Naval Academy, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, Kansas, and Virginia. Widowed in 1969 with four young children, Joan worked full time as a nurse and returned to school to obtain a B.S. and M.S. in nursing from George Mason University. Joan's nursing career encompassed 42 years and included positions as a health coordinator for Head Start, a school nurse at Northern Virginia Community College, a staff nurse at Alexandria Hospital, an American Red Cross instructor and a faculty member at Tidewater Community College where she loved teaching and training new nursing students. Joan moved to Virginia Beach in 1986 when her first grandchild was born to be a hands-on and involved grandma. Her second husband Henry Acosta died in 1995. She retired in 1996 and became an active volunteer with the American Red Cross, the Meals on Wheels program, and as a financial counselor for senior citizens. While a volunteer at the Virginia Aquarium, she met fellow volunteer Ted Rutkowski. Ted became her loving companion for 10 years until his death in 2009. Joan triumphed over much personal tragedy and hardship during her lifetime with determination, perseverance, a positive outlook, and her deep and abiding faith. She will always be remembered for her sharp wit, strong independent streak, her fierce loyalty to all things New York, her dedication to nursing, and having a deep love and commitment to caring for and always helping others. The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff and members of the Church of the Holy Family Catholic Church where Joan was a member since 1986 for their support and assistance during her journey. A memorial Mass followed by a church reception will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 12, at the Church of the Holy Family, 1279 North Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church of the Holy Family Catholic Church or the American Red Cross.