Choosing Service Over a Quiet Retirement
Most people hope to spend their retirement relaxing. Kathy and Daniel Cordova chose something different—they chose to spend theirs lifting the Tooele Valley community in every way they can. These longtime residents of the area divide much of their free time between serving their neighbors through Toys for Tots and helping run the Tooele Arts Festival, but that only touches the surface of all they have done in a lifetime of giving. Serving isn’t just something they do, it is woven into the fabric of who they are. Wherever they go, they are bringing their generous hearts– and their family– with them.
The Heart of the Tooele Arts Festival
If you show up early enough to the Tooele Arts Festival, you’ll spot Kathy and Daniel Cordova, sleeves rolled up, already working. They’ve been doing that—showing up—most of their lives. All year they work tirelessly to help plan the festival, to find volunteers, and bring in vendors from the area for families to come meet and support local artisans. One of their other responsibilities, to set up and run the beer garden, was inherited when their longtime friend, Carol Maynard retired. Kathy asked her “who is going to run the Beer Garden?” and Carol responded, “Who do you think?” They have run the garden ever since. Not only do they work for the festival, but love to support the local artisans, and have purchased many beautiful items to bless their home.
Friendships Built Through Service
Their service has given them not just a love for their community, but many friendships and memories. “Over the years we’ve met beautiful people,” they say, “We’ve made new friends.” Connected by their service together, the Cordovas spend time riding Harleys, camping, watching football and just hanging out with the people they have served with over the years.
Their friends are the kind of people who come when the call is made. “Last year, we ran out of people helping us put things away” Daniel recalls a time after the Arts Festival. “We had an army of people show up after one phone call, “Kathy adds, “It took us about two hours to get our stuff packed up, not five or six.”
A Family Rooted in Community
Community and service is woven deep into the roots of Kathy’s family. “Meeting people and talking to people and getting to know them is something I have enjoyed forever,” Kathy says. Her late mother, who owned the Ceders Beauty Boutique (now closed), introduced Kathy to countless neighbors. “So I would meet people that would come into her beauty shop. My Mom was a social butterfly.”
Kathy’s grandmother, who taught for 35 years at the Central School, took part in garden clubs, card clubs and a bridge club, bringing Kathy along with her. “We were the little helpers,” She reminisces about these social circles. “We had little aprons, all the ladies knew us, garden friends knew us. So that’s how we grew up. Just always helping people and doing things.” Today she feels saddened by how isolated people have become since COVID. “They forgot how to socialize and be human to each other.”
Daniel’s Years in Search and Rescue
Daniel’s service began long before retirement also. For approximately 20 years Daniel worked on the search and rescue teams, the last five being a squad leader. “ Whenever the call came, I would immediately go get dressed– boots, gear– whatever I needed, whatever the weather was .” He lovingly calls Kathy the best person on his team. “They didn’t see what I saw,” he says about her help. “She took care of me and my team, checking my pack, lunch, snacks, and extra water.” she would always pack for the squad, not just me.” Kathy adds, “We didn’t know if it was going to be just a short call-out, a couple of hours, or if it was going to be overnight.”
The Cordova’s had to make decisions on which calls Daniel would go out on. “If it was children, I was going,” he tenderly recalls. “If I had to work in the morning, too bad. I would always say, ‘If it were my children or grandchildren, I would want every available man to help,’ so we did.” Even through retirement, they still have close connections with their old team members, exchanging greetings, cards and phone calls.
Passing the Torch to the Next Generation
Kathy is determined to pass this legacy on to the next generation. Their children and grandchildren have taken it to heart. “They’ve brought people into their homes,” she says. “They take care of other families.” Her grandkids enjoy shopping for the Toys For Tots program, and have even done a Kool-aid stand to raise money for donations. “All our grandkids are the most giving kids,” Kathy says proudly.
A Long History with Toys for Tots
Kathy’s work with Toys for Tots began when it was known as “Operation Christmas.” The Food Bank, where she was employed, would give each needy family a nice dinner and presents. “It was done out of the Food Bank because that is where they knew to come.” She enjoyed getting to know the families and finding a sponsor to help them.She misses that close personal aspect. “Now it’s all online so we don’t really get to meet them until they come and pick up their toys.” She still loves to meet with the kids and see their joy.
These days, the Cordovas are available for whatever needs doing. Toys for Tots has moved to a donated warehouse, and they help organize, clean and get ready to stock it each year. They can be found prepping the gift bags and putting together the stocking stuffers, or working to organize the Teen room. “They don’t think of the teenagers,” Kathy says. “They think of littles mostly for Toys for Tots.” But the Teens have a high need for things like jumper cables, makeup, shaving equipment, and other things. Toys for Tots has a great outreach, extending over the entire Tooele county, and out into Wendover and Ibapah.
A Community That Gives Back
The Cordovas are always amazed at the generosity of the community of Tooele. Donation bags are often dropped off on their front porch. If Kathy had to choose one word to describe Grantsville and Tooele, she chooses “Giving.”
“This community is one of the most giving communities I’ve ever dealt with. And I’ve lived in different places, but this town just rallies like there is no tomorrow.”
A Message for the Community
Living a lifetime of service, the Cordovas have a message for their neighbors: make time for one another. “Meet your neighbors. Learn your neighborhood,” Kathy says. “There are a lot of people who need help and don’t say anything. You don’t know what people are going through.” They believe the community needs more kindness, more connection, and less division.
“Quit being mean. Be friendlier” they say with a smile.
A Legacy of Love and Service
Their lives testify to a simple truth: helping others builds memories, creates friendships, strengthens families, and, in the end, makes a stronger town—one act of service at a time.
–Written by A.A. Woodruff. She lives with her family in Pocatello, ID. She loves hikes, time with her family, and writing books and poems.
