LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the life and mourning the passing of
Mescal Hornbeck, distinguished citizen and devoted member of her commu-
nity

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Mescal Hornbeck of Woodstock, New York, died on Wednesday,
January 19, 2011, at the age of 99, just six months before her 100th
birthday; and
WHEREAS, Mescal Hornbeck, beloved Woodstock mainstay, was born on June
17, 1911, in Shokan, New York; a 1928 graduate of Kingston High School,
she went on to attend Arnot-Ogden Hospital School for Nursing and became
a registered nurse in 1933; and
WHEREAS, Mescal married Samuel Earl Hornbeck in 1937, and together
they had four wonderful children; in addition to raising her family,
Mescal maintained her own nursing career while moving around the country
to accommodate her husband's demanding career; and
WHEREAS, Her nearly five-decade long nursing career included teaching,
private-duty nursing and public-health nursing throughout New York and
Kentucky; during World War II, she taught cadet nursing and worked even-
ing shifts as an industrial nurse; and
WHEREAS, Mescal Hornbeck retired a year after her husband Samuel's
death in 1970, and moved to Woodstock where she provided private nursing
and cared for her then 87 year-old mother; her activity seemed to accel-
erate throughout her life resulting in years of noble activism; and
WHEREAS, Whenever people mobilized to fight for a good cause in Wood-
stock, Mescal Hornbeck was part of the effort; she was a strong, intel-
ligent and pragmatic activist who was very community-minded; subsequent-
ly, she was the recipient of the 2007 Alf Evers Volunteer of the Year
Award; and
WHEREAS, Mescal Hornbeck was instrumental in establishing Ulster Coun-
ty's first Meals on Wheels program and volunteered as a health advisor
to Meals Together programs allowing seniors to enjoy meals at a reason-
able price in a social setting; she believed that communities should
offer both the nutritional needs of senior citizens as well as social
interaction; and
WHEREAS, Mescal Hornbeck was active in creating Ulster County's Office
of the Aging, as well as influential in salvaging the Woodstock Communi-
ty Center from demolition, and assisting with the relocation effort of
the Town Court; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, this remarkable woman spearheaded senior citizens'
activities in Woodstock and was an advocate for seniors rights through-
out the county; she organized senior citizens' groups and in 1982, she
created the community's Senior Recreation Committee; under her luminous
direction, the group's activities grew to include classes in art, drama,
exercise, writing, folk dancing, chorus, bridge, and improvisation, all
offered free of charge to Woodstock elders; and
WHEREAS, Mescal Hornbeck was elected to the Woodstock Town Board in
1982; she served a four year term, during which time she was appointed
to the Senior Citizen Anti-Crime Task Force, a branch of the sheriff's
department, being the first senior citizen to serve on the board; and
WHEREAS, A political advocate for issues she believed in, Mescal Horn-
beck led the Woodstock Chapter of Citizens for Universal Healthcare and
made health services available to the elderly; she provided a wealth of

information for her peers about health and nutrition and taught nursing
classes on important health issues; and
WHEREAS, In recent years, Mescal Hornbeck was known for her Woodstock
Times column, "Mescal's Message"; even as a nonagenarian, she remained
sharp as a tack and politically astute; and
WHEREAS, A talented painter and gardener, Mescal Hornbeck enjoyed
playing Scrabble, cooking, and traveling; she visited New Zealand twice,
had a sea voyage from Australia to England, and a trip to Europe that
included Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Siena; and
WHEREAS, Mescal Hornbeck is survived by her daughter, Ruth, and her
three sons, Frederick, Peter, and Henry, as well as seven grandchildren
and two great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, imbued with a sense of
compassion, and comforted by a loving family, Mescal Hornbeck leaves
behind a legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will
remain as a comforting memory to all she served and befriended; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to publicly recog-
nize those who have reached such a remarkable age and who have witnessed
and celebrated the innovations, cultural developments and awesome
achievements of this country during the last century, while themselves
contributing to the growth and excellence of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the life and mourn the passing of Mescal Hornbeck, distin-
guished citizen and devoted member of her community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Mescal Hornbeck.