Joseph R. Moran
February 21, 1942 ~ July 14, 2022
Resided in:
Portland, Maine
PORTLAND—Joseph R. Moran, 80, of Portland, died peacefully on Thursday, July 14 in Yarmouth.
Joseph was born in Portland on February 21, 1942, the son of Joseph and Evelyn (Feeney) Moran. He grew up in Portland, attended Cathedral Grammar School and graduated from Cheverus High School in 1960, where he played on and was a Captain of the football team. He then went on to Maine Maritime Academy where he also played football and served as Class President, graduating in 1964.
After graduating from MMA, he served 2 terms as Alumni President and was also inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for his outstanding performance on the field, in addition to being recognized as an upstanding alumnus. The lifelong relationships he formed at MMA were truly special and very important parts of his life. He met his best friend and roommate Fred Gleason there and they were inseparable until Fred’s death in 2009.
Upon graduation, Joe went to sea as a Merchant Marine but found his true calling on land. He went to work for Central Maine Power in 1971 which brought him from Portland to Augusta to Waterville and finally back to Augusta, where he retired as a Vice President in 1995. At CMP, he once again created deep and long-lasting bonds with his co-workers, whom he considered great friends.
After retiring from CMP, Joe worked for USAID in Ukraine from 1995-1999 and then returned to Maine to serve as a consultant for Efficiency Maine until 2017.
While on vacation in Ireland in 1970, he met the love of his life and future wife Sinéad (Jane) Connolly at the Connemara Coast Hotel. The couple was married on July 5th, 1971, in Portland. Joe and Jane had two children, Shannon and Matthew, and often travelled back to Ireland to visit family in and around the Galway area where Jane was from and where Joe had family roots.
Avid sports fans, Joe and Jane were longtime members of Waterville CC where they enjoyed playing golf with many close friends, and after moving back to Portland in 2000, joined The Purpoodock Club. Joe was also a football referee for many years, continuing to enjoy the sport he had played for so long. He enjoyed attending Patriots games, in particular with his nephew Sean. Some of his more notable sports trips included the Masters and multiple trips out to South Bend with family and friends to see Notre Dame play.
Among his activities, Joe was a founding member and first President of the Portland branch of the Irish American club in 1973 and served on many boards around the area including: the Boys and Girls Club, of which he was a lifetime member, the Iris Network, Mid-Maine Medical Center, various energy boards both in and out of state, Junior Achievement, the Elks Club, and the Knights of Columbus.
Joe was predeceased by his wife Jane in 2005, and is survived by his children, Shannon Moran of Saint Malo, France and her daughters Maëva and Maëlle, Matthew Moran and his wife Kristina of Portland and their son Kier; his siblings, Dennis Moran and his wife, Beverly of Portland; David Moran and his wife, Gloria of South Portland; John “Jack” Moran and his wife, Bridget of Portland; Mary “Queenie” Moran of New Hampshire; Ann Herbert of Portland; Cathy Mosley and her husband, David of Portland; his many nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Shannon & Matthew would like to extend their greatest thanks to the many staff members and care givers at the various facilities where Joe spent his last years including Falmouth House at Ocean View, Coastal Manor, and Mercy Hospital.
A most heartfelt thanks to family and friends who have been such constant and faithful companions to Joe and to them. Your kindness has been so appreciated and the great joy and comfort you brought and continue to bring is immeasurable. Though he will be missed by so many, his memory will live on.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Friday July 22, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home of Portland.
To view Joseph’s memorial page or share an online condolence, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Boys and Girls Club.
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Joe was a neighbor in Waterville. He and Jane were always very welcoming to Matt and Shannons friends. I knew if my boys were there that they were treated with kindness and respect. Joe truly cared for Matt and Shannon’s piers and I knew the Moran home was always a safe and fun place to hang out. I loved Joe’s great smile, big personality and commitment to his work, his community, and most of all his family. Thanks Joe for all that you have accomplished in life. The world is a better place because you were in it.
Bill and Cindy
Brilliant and successful was Joe but here is what came to find: 15 years old and Joe introduced me a thing called GIQ, that is Giant Imperial Quart and t contained this liquid called Beer . This was at Peaks Island before we headed to the bowling alley. Joe had a couple of GIQs and decided to take the ball outside to the top of the hill, he charged down thru the front door let the bowling ball go into the gutter but he kept going on his stomach into the pins for a strike . Honest, true story. And then the Cow Island story, I’ll tell that one to Matt somewtime. Bill Honan CHS 1960
I knew Joe from back in the old days at CMP. He was also good friends with my farther who was a long time veteran of CMP as well. Joe was a great guy, always upbeat and very supportive.
I worked at CMP when Joe was there. He was an amazing and gregarious man, liked by everyone. 1995 or 1996 he and two of us flew to Armenia to do 2 weeks of training of their utility employees. Joe was the leader of our threesome and the Armenians came to love him. Space won’t allow me to convey the details of that trip but suffice to say he made it memorable. One event was when we met up with this young man at a church who was having a baptism of his son and wanted us to come to his house to celebrate. He gave each of us a “gold” necklace and we felt we had to go. So our interpreter, Joe, the driver, the young father, and us two other Americans all stuffed into this little Lada (made to seat 3-4 small people, and certainly Joe did not qualify). We arrived at the young man’s house and went into an beautiful array of tables and food. The woman next to me sang a lovely Armenian song and then they wanted us to sing. The other 2 Americans said I should do it, but that wasn’t going to happen. Then Joe stood up and said he would sing. My mouth went open. He sang Ava Maria and we all loved it! On another day we were in a room carved out of stone, noted for its acoustics. Once in there, our interpreter said “ok, Joseph” and we all knew Joe was going to sing again and it was beautiful. We sang, we danced (all men) we had many toasts, lost a bet on the OJ trial and left behind much goodwill, thanks in large part to Joe.
I recently tried to find him unsuccessfully and as recent as last week asked someone if they had been in contact with him. His quick wit and affable personality made him an exceptional man. It was a privilege to have known him.
Charley Bonney
Wayne, ME
sending prayers to Joes family. I am so sorry for your loss, your father accomplished so much in his life , I am sure you must be so very proud to had the honor of calling him Dad. always in your heart, forever on your mind, Much love Aunt Doris
Dear Jesus, please watch over Joe as he watched over and cared for so many people in his lifetime.
I am fortunate to have known Joe for about 25 years. He is what I call a “quality man” and I believe Jesus will welcome him into Heaven.
As a kid growing up on “The Hill” in the 50’s, I was a few years younger than Joe. Even as a kid back then, Joe was a highly respected and natural born leader. His many remarkable lifetime accomplishments come as no surprise to any of us who knew him growing up. In addition to the above, Joe had a quick and agile mind coupled with a great sense of humor and an uncanny gift for timing. One of The Hill’s best.
My sincere condolences to “Tank”, David, Jackie and the rest of the family.
RIP and Godspeed, “Tonnah”
The ultimate of “friendship” was Joey for sure. His witticisms and quick wit were amazing character traits.
Sincere Condolences to Joe’s family
Matt, I’m saddened to realize after reading your sweet memorial what a fine man your father was and regret never having met him face to face. Somehow, I was the guy that missed out on that privilege. Our deepest condolences on your, and our loss.
Dear Moran Family, Joe was a giver and a role model for us all, as well as a wonderful friend and neighbor. He will be dearly missed. Love, Mark and Tina (Murphy) Serdjenian and Family
Couldn’t ask for a better dad/best friend. He taught me what it was to be a man, a father and a leader. I talked to him or saw him everyday for as long as I can remember. I love you dad ❤️
Couldn’t ask for a better role model, dad and best friend. He taught me what it was to be a man, a father and a leader. I talked to or saw him everyday for as long as I can remember and that is what I will miss most. He left a mark on everyone he met and Portland was HIS town that he shared with me and I was lucky enough to become a part of it with him. To his classmates from Cheverus and MMA to his colleagues at CMP and the crew at Ruski’s I thank you for your support and friendship ❤️
Dear Moran family. I was very sad to read this about Joe’s passing. He was a very decent and widely respected “Hillboy”. His Cathedral, Cheverus, and loving family background showed in his everyday character.
Being a few years younger than Joe, I remember seeing Joe as an MMA student one weekend when he was home. He was wearing his dress blues and looked like a very squared- away Naval officer.
Joe came to our bar. I think it was sometime after his wife Jane had passed that he started to come around a bit.There were some other guys in there whose wives had passed recently as well. There turned out to be this amazing group of gentlemen who found each other & ate & drank ( coffee or stronger) every morning just about every day. This guy Joe Moran brought good craic to everyone around & made it easy to just be. They ought to name a drink after you.. and they did! Raise a glass to a lovely man!
Just after he was interviewed by my boss at the time I was called in to the Division Mgr. he asked if I knew Joe ? I said hire him ! And he did ! Our career paths crossed over for the next 26 years at CMP. Joe was a supportive friend , a wonderful classmate, and co-worker .
My sincere condolences to the Moran family I had many wonderful conversations with Joe while I was working at Mercy my connection was his his sister Queenie who had been a classmate Joe had a great sense of humor and I always left with a smile May your memories console you all
I pray that Joe’s family will find peace and comfort through the great example and mentor that Joe always managed to be. He was a friend and classmate and we had a great time when I visited him in April! Joe is such a loss to the heart of our MMA class, he was the connection to all of our classmates and their families.
Pete Johnson 64E
Sending our sincere condolences to Matt, Kristen and Joe entire family.
Richie & Mary Axelsen
Matt and Shannon,
So sorry for your loss. Joe was a wonderful and kind man. He will be missed by all who knew him.
Si Grondin, Boise, ID
Joe, Peaks Island ‘pin boy’ at the bowling alley, was a childhood friend who shared happy days with our family. My favorite memory is of the time Joe sunk a rowboat in Hadlock’s Cove overnight. Then, the next day 3 of us rowed over to Cushing, bailing water all the way! We climbed to the lookout tower, ate a packed lunch and returned before the tide changed in order to beat the strong, incoming currents. All in a day’s adventure on the Island with compatriot Joe!
Susan (Terrien) Russo
Matt, Shannon, and family,
We are so sorry to hear of your wonderful dad’s passing. Your mom and dad were very good friends and the best people. Lots of good Waterville memories! I’ll miss sending him a St. Patrick’s Day card in March.
With our deepest sympathy, love, and prayers. Tom and June York