Loss and hope
Crystal Moore
Crystal Moore, a Skidmore social work professor and associate dean of the faculty,
will serve as facilitator and featured speaker at the Center for Hope's 16th annual New York State Missing Persons Day event this Saturday, April 8, starting
at 9 a.m. at the New York State Museum on Madison Avenue in Albany, N.Y. The event
is for families and friends affected by the unexplained or unresolved disappearance
of a loved one.
Moore's presentation, "Stories Told by Those Left Behind: Meaning, Resiliency, and
Missing Persons," will chronicle the loss she herself has felt since her mother, Christine
Betty Lowe, went missing in 1971, when Moore was 7 years old. See sees that loss as
foundational to a life infused with love, heartbreak, grace, luck, and grit.
She explains, "The stories we tell to ourselves and others about our missing people
and their disappearance can impact our resiliency and how we make meaning of this
ambiguous loss as individuals, families, and communities. For many years, I had never
met anyone who I knew had a missing person in their lives. Having the opportunity
to come together with others who share this experience has helped me come to terms
and make meaning of my own loss. We share in each other's pain and strength, which
can be incredibly powerful."
Event attendees will have an opportunity to join together and interact with other
families as well as representatives from law enforcement and missing persons organizations.
Moore says, "This event is designed to provide families an opportunity for discussion
on ways to cope with their loss and keep hope alive. We hope it will be an uplifting
experience."
A private session for families and loved ones, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be followed
by a public ceremony at 1 p.m., open to all who support the mission of finding a resolution
for families with a missing loved one. The day's program will include inspirational
speakers, music, and presentation of the HOPE award. The closing ceremony will be
at the Missing Persons Remembrance monument adjacent to the museum. New York State
Police and the state's Division of Criminal Justice will attend, and families may
submit DNA samples for comparison to unidentified decedents in the CODIS database.
Moore has taught at Skidmore since 2001. She publishes on topics related to mental
health, thanatology (death and dying), and gerontology. She is working on her third
book, which focuses on missing persons.