Edith M. (Peggy) Sposato

For Mom

The indelible Edith Irene “Peggy” Sposato, RN, ARNP, MHM, has passed at 80 years young on July 22, 2020 at Boca Regional Hospital, in Boca Raton, Florida. She is survived by her two children, Patricia Lynn and James Vincent Sposato and younger sister and occasional travel companion, Patricia Helen O’Brien.  Peggy was born October 1939 in Towanda, Pennsylvania to Robert Elwood Moore and Dorothy Elinor Gorham who both preceded her in death.  She often spoke of the family home at RD 6, West Colesville with fond memories.  She would recall ice skating on the ponds in winter, walking through the orchards eating fresh apples and berries, and the family dog, Teddy waiting for her to come home from school each day.  Peggy attended Harpursville High School, Home of the Hornets Class of '57 and was involved in cheerleading and began her culinary skills entering her decorative cakes in the Afton Fair.  She then attended Willard State Hospital Nursing School in New York.  It was during this time that her family moved to Miami, Florida.  In 1959 the family then moved to Miramar, Florida where she met James Vincent Sposato; they were married in St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, West Hollywood in 1963. Out of this union, the Sposato’s raised two children: Tricia and Jimmy.

Peggy received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida International University in 1974 and her Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner’s accreditation later that same year from the University of Miami.  In 1987, she returned to academia to pursue her master’s degree in health management from St. Thomas University.

Peggy had a distinguished and unique career path that ranged from being a dedicated nurse at Mount Sinai Hospital taking care of Don Rickle’s mother to ending her career at the U.S. Department of Justice as a  Sr. Healthcare Program Analyst investigating Medicare fraud.  Fifteen years and billions of dollars later, this position would be the work she was most proud; working with the many talented members of the task force to ensure the sustainability of the Medicare program in service of the American people.  She missed the work and the people so much that she updated her resume planning to return to the job attacking anyone unwise enough to steal from Medicare only to be sidelined by a hemorrhagic stroke.

Not one to sit still, mom was a force of nature and talented at many things.  She enjoyed baking, (in fact, many years after their divorce, our father would lament that he missed her baking most!), crocheting, cross-stitch, sewing (including a 720 square foot banner for a  hot air balloon), reading and Sudoku puzzles.  Peggy was an avid traveler hiking Alaska or strolling the streets of Paris for the perfect pain au chocolat to pub-hopping in search of the best Celtic music she and her sister could find in Ireland.  Her most recent forays were down under visiting New Zealand and Australia and traversing the divergent boundaries of Iceland and castles of Scotland.

Peggy had an adventurous soul and was willing to try (almost) anything once; although we are not sure that anyone convinced her to attempt skydiving!  She was hell on wheels and water:  fearlessly maneuvering a hot air balloon chase vehicle to whipping the kids around the lake in the family Ski Nautique.   At 76 years of age she was ballsier than any millennial, ziplining the tree-tops and braving Class IV whitewater rapids in Tennessee.  The water was where she found the most enjoyable and relaxing parts of her life whether in quiet times or on an adventure.

Family was such an important part of her core values that she further researched her family genealogy back to the 1400’s and thereby gained admittance to the prestigious lineage-based service organization, Daughters of the American Revolution.  Above all else, Peggy was a wonderful mother: unwavering, loving and a good provider.  She instilled in her children strong values, a limitless sense of curiosity and an unquenchable desire to learn – and let us not forget that inherited competitive spirit!  We will honor you each day by upholding these attributes and strive to make you proud.  You will be missed each and every day more than you could ever know. 

In light of the current social and geographic constraints, we ask that you join us in celebrating Peggy’s life in an unconventional way.  Please share photos and a story or two of how she touched your life as we are printing a memorial book of your contributions to pay tribute to Peggy - mother, sister, aunt, and friend.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to causes dear to her heart such as “Dress for Success” an organization that supports the empowerment of women to become economically independent or Morris Animal Foundation which promotes veterinary and wildlife disease research.