Dolores Muscio
OBITUARY
Dolores Jean Muscio passed away peacefully on February 18th, 2026, surrounded by loving family members after living a full and rewarding life of 98 years. Strong-willed, outspoken, and extremely self-confident, her common sense, compassion, and support were evident to all who knew her.
She was born on December 15th, 1927, in Banks Township, PA and grew up locally in Tresckow, attending high school in nearby Hazleton. She was a true “Coal Miner’s Daughter”. Her father, Andrew, immigrated to the United States from Austria as a young child and spent his entire life working in the coal mines. He died in his mid-40s from Black Lung Disease.
Her calling to help others manifested itself after high school graduation in 1945. She enrolled at the St. Agnes Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia with the goal of becoming a Registered Nurse. She excelled at her studies and became a Staff and Head Nurse at several Philadelphia area hospitals. In 1951, she and her best friend Pat, also an RN, decided to take a chance and travelled across the country to the San Francisco Bay Area to continue the pursuit of their professional and personal goals.
Soon after settling in the East Bay Area, she joined the staff at Herrick Memorial Hospital in Berkeley, where she would become Head Nurse of Pediatrics for five years. It was during this time that she met her future husband, Robert Dean Muscio, a young Naval Officer who eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander. They married in 1954 and enjoyed a wonderful 56-year marriage.
She faithfully supported him on his chosen path of helping others as a Professional Educator. Dr. Muscio started as a teacher, then Principal, then Assistant Superintendent of the Sunnyvale School District and finally, Superintendent of the Lakeside Union School District for many years.
In the late 1960’s, Dolores developed a passion for golf, joining a women’s golf league in Sunnyvale. After moving to Lakeside, she became involved with several area support groups, including the Women’s Club of Lakeside, the Lakeside Kiwaniannes, the Foothills Council PTA, President of the El Capitan High School PTA, and President of the El Capitan Community Scholarship Foundation. After her two sons graduated high school, she got the urge to work in the health profession again. For several years in the late 1970’s, she was an RN at Alvarado Hospital and the Alvarado Parkway Institute. She also became a huge fan of the San Diego Padres, starting with their inaugural 1969 season and continuing to the present. In the early years, she was always at the ballpark watching in person, in later years on TV. She never missed a game.
Another passion of hers was quilting. After her husband retired in the early 1980’s, they purchased the Calico Connection in El Cajon, a craft and quilting store. He ran the business side, and she was always interacting with customers and leading quilting seminars. They had one of the largest fabric inventories in the East County. She was an accomplished quilter, making several dozen quilts. Many are still displayed at her home. Her love of gardening, particularly roses, must be mentioned too. She took great pride in her gardens and received immense satisfaction from them.
She is survived by Robert Andrew Muscio, her eldest son, who just retired after 43 years with the Navy as a civil servant. She’s also survived by her stepdaughter, Janet Muscio, who also gave a lifetime of service in Professional Education as both a teacher and mentor in the San Jose area of Northern California. Dolores was a grandmother to three wonderful and loving grandchildren, Evan, Mia, and Demi; and mother-in-law to their mom, Mari Muscio. Dolores’s husband preceded her in death, passing away in 2010. Also preceding her was her youngest son, Richard John Muscio, father of her three grandchildren. He passed away two years ago. He was a well-known CPA, Financial Planner, Philanthropist, tennis player, and health enthusiast who had a major impact on North San Diego County.
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Memorial Services are scheduled at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at the end of March where her ashes will join those of her husband.