John M. Moran, 81, who lived in Woburn all his adult life, died peacefully at home Saturday, March 5th, surrounded by his loving family, after an extended illness.
John was born in Clinton, MA, in 1929. He served in the U.S. Army as a cryptanalyst. Following an honorable discharge, he earned a bachelor's degree cum laude from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, where he was vice president of his Class of '57, and earned a Master of Arts degree in teaching at Harvard University in Cambridge in 1959. He was a doctoral candidate at Boston University.
John was a committed educator, beginning as an English teacher, a guidance counselor and the Administrator of Special Education in Woburn Public Schools. He later worked as a guidance counselor in Framingham and as the Director of Guidance and Administrator of Special Education in Holbrook. He was appointed Superintendent of Schools in Holbrook and also served as Superintendent of Schools in Mansfield. During his career, he also taught at both Boston State College and Suffolk University.
John and his wife, Rosemary (McGaffigan), were married for 55 years, and raised seven children. For several years, he served on the Woburn School Committee. He also was a founding member of the Woburn Council for Social Concern. John was a communicant of St. Anthony's Parish, a long-time member of its Holy Name Society and a regular lector at Sunday Mass.
An avid golfer, John was a member of the senior golf league at Woburn Country Club and frequently played there before he fell ill. He was a former member of the Woburn Elks and was a director at the Woburn Boys & Girls Club.
In addition to his beloved wife Rosemary, he is survived by his son John Jr. and wife Ellen of South Windsor, CT; son Peter and his late wife Yvette of Rowley, MA; daughter Bernadette King and husband James of North Reading, MA; son Thomas and wife Linda of McLean, VA; son Rev. Fr. Terence Moran, Pastor of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Chelsea, MA; son Brian and wife Kerri of Rowley, MA; and daughter Elizabeth Dunn and husband Derek of Winchester, MA, along with 13 grandchildren: Brian, William and Christopher Moran; Thomas and Patrick Moran; Tim and Katie King; Cecelia and Peter Moran; Colin and Bridget Moran; and R.J. and Nora Dunn. Mr. Moran was one of ten children and is further survived by his brother, Thomas Moran, and is predeceased by siblings, Agnes, Ruth, Celia, James, Joseph, Robert, Elizabeth and Francis.
Funeral services will be held from the McLaughlin – Dello Russo Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St., Woburn, MA, Friday, March 11th, at 10 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated in St. Anthony Church, 851 Main St., Woburn, at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at the McLaughlin – Dello Russo Funeral Home on Thursday from 4 thru 8. Services will conclude with military honors and burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. It has been requested that in lieu of flowers memorial donations may be sent in John’s memory to St. John’s Seminary, 127 Lake St., Brighton, MA 02135.