08/05/2018
John Francis Moran Jr.
May 23, 1944 ~ August 3, 2018 (age 74)
Provided by S.R. Avery Funeral Home
Services
VISITATION
Tuesday
August 7, 2018
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
S. R. Avery Funeral Home
Hope Valley, RI
SERVICE
Wednesday
August 8, 2018
11:00 AM
St. Bernard Church
North Kingstown, RI
John Francis Moran Jr., 74 of Richmond, RI, passed away Friday, August
3rd in the arms of his loving family. An incredibly loving Husband, Father,
Grandfather, and friend, John will forever remain one of the kindest souls
to have ever graced this earth. Calling Hours for John will be held at the
S.R. Avery Funeral Home, located
at 3A Bank St. Hope Valley, RI from 4pm to 7pm on Tuesday, August 7th.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Bernerd’s Church, located at 275 Tower
Hill Rd. North Kingstown, RI at 11am on Wednesday, August 8th.
John Francis Moran Jr. grew up in Warwick, RI with his Father (John F
Moran), Mother (Loretta C**ney), and his three younger sisters (Barbara
Re*****on, Mary Doyle, and Gail Moran). He was a member of the first
graduating class of Bishop Hendricken High School, where he also
volunteered to build desks and outfit the classrooms prior to the schools
opening. Following his love for the classroom, John attended the
University of Rhode Island in pursuit of a Master’s Degree in Mathematics
and Education. Forever a tenacious and hardworking man, John worked
tirelessly as both a laundry room employee and an orderly at the Rhode
Island Hospital in order to pay his way through college.
At the age of 22, John began his career as a High School Mathematics
Teacher at the Chariho Regional School District, where he eagerly shared
his passion for algebra for 30 years. While working at Chariho, he
became deeply involved with many programs and took on the
responsibilities of Bus Monitor, Detention Supervision, Summer School
Classes, Wrestling Coach, Track and Field Coach, Drivers Education,
and even helped found and develop the school’s first Weightlifting
Program. He retired from Chariho High School in 1996 and went on to
teach at both Bishop Hendricken and the Exeter Job Corps in the three
years that followed. Mr. Moran continued to teach Driver’s Education until
just last year. Always one to calculate and impress, John would often
excitedly figure that he had taught over 10,000 students in Driver’s
Education alone.
Of course, being a proud educator accounts for the bulk of his resume,
but it was his incredibly vast passions and accomplishments that made
John such an extraordinary character. John was a Race Car Driver and
proud owner of the “Hungry Hemi”. He was the world’s best storyteller as
his stories were both entertaining and endless. He was also an Olympic
Weightlifter, with a 54” chest and longstanding records in his age and
weight class. John was real-life Super Hero, who pulled a man from the
burning wreckage of a car accident wearing only his pajamas. John was
STRONG; He celebrated his 40th birthday by completing 10,000 sit-ups
in a single day and was often known to prove his strength by executing
push-ups with multiple people standing on his back.
And while all of this is impressive, what made John most incredible was
his heart. John Francis Moran Jr loved harder than anyone on earth. He
had the ability to befriend most anyone and he did so with people from all
walks of life, without prejudice. His roaring laugh and beaming smile
were infectious and moments spent with John were moments spent in the
best of company. He was a devoted Husband to his wife Debra. He was
an incredibly supportive and affectionate Father to his children Colleen
and Anthony Abruzzese, John and Tiffany Moran, Jillian and Jason
Colomb, Ryan Moran and Carla Assalone. John was a tremendously
proud “Papa” to his beautiful grandchildren Jason, Sophia, Julia, Johnny,
and Alaina. Lastly, he was a devoted friend to Paul Beaulieu, who he
considered a brother. He will be sorely missed but forever in our hearts.
Memorial contributions can be made in his name to the Chariho Sports
Boosters or the American Heart Association.
