Elizabeth Hoskins, former Waypoint executive director, dies at 73

CEDAR RAPIDS — After a life of service to others, particularly women and children, Elizabeth “Liz” Hoskins, the former executive director of Waypoint Services, died Jan. 27 at age 73.

Hoskins led the nonprofit’s staff and volunteers in providing shelter and food, helping those who were victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and providing lower cost day care.

Under her leadership, the organization dropped its affiliation with the YWCA in 2001, rebranded itself as Waypoint and welcomed men to its board of directors for the first time, according to her obituary.

“I was fortunate to know Liz for many years prior to my association with Waypoint, and she was one of the most creative, innovative and caring people I’ve ever met,” Waypoint CEO Jaye Kennedy said in a statement. “Her love for this community showed in just about everything she did professionally. Waypoint is strong today because of her leadership, and I am a better person for having known her.”

Hoskins established a child care partnership with AEGON in three locations, later opening day care to the general public. She helped lead the statewide effort to regionalize the delivery of domestic violence services.

After the 2008 flood resulted in $1.2 million in damages to the organization's buildings, the Waypoint team revived the building and secured funding to renovate the facility that was constructed in 1911.

Hoskins particularly enjoyed uniting the Waypoint team and community during the Christmas holiday to ensure that every child and mother who needed gifts received them, according to her obituary.

Emily Blomme, the Foundation 2 chief executive officer, said she first met Hoskins while working at Horizons, then called Family Services.

Hoskins played a key part in the initial work of securing Waypoint’s position as a well-respected nonprofit in the community, Blomme said.

“She was really instrumental in so much of the nonprofit work that our community rallies around,” Blomme said. “She was a great leader, and it’s a huge loss for the community.”

Bloome said she was starting her career, she watched Hoskins at meetings, where she was a “fierce” and “strong” female leader. That was important to her own career development, Blomme said, and a reminder that women can get things done.

“She cared deeply about the human condition and put a lot of effort into trying to improve quality of life, which is one of my passions and my role now,” Blomme said. “ … Female leaders, generally we see a lot more of them now, but we didn’t see as many of them then.”

Hoskins served on the board of United Way of East Central Iowa for more than 10 years, where she helped raise funds and lead the first Days of Caring in Cedar Rapids — a day when volunteers would fan out in the community for a day of service.

In her final years, Hoskins challenged her care providers to learn from the impact Alzheimer's disease had on her life.

Contributions in Hoskins’ name should be made to Catherine McAuley Center, 1220 Fifth Ave. SE.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. A one-hour public visitation starts at 10 a.m. The funeral service will be streamed on the funeral home website under Hoskins’ obituary and the video tab.

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