William F. Moran

Dr. William F. Moran, 87, of Walden, died Oct. 4, 2012, with his family at his side.

He was born March 1, 1925.

He was raised in Manchester, N.H., attended Manhattan College , received his master's degree from the City University of New York and earned his doctorate in education from Fordham University . He served with the Brothers in New York City before setting off on a career of teaching and coaching beginning at Tappan Zee High School in Piermont. Although he had a short coaching career, because of a promotion to assistant principal, Moran took the Tappan Zee boys basketball team to a PSAL title in 1957-58 and earned Coach of the Year honors two years in a row.

As an educator, Dr. Moran was appointed the Valley Central principal in 1963 before taking over as superintendent of Valley Central schools only one year later. Bill would remain in this position for nearly 20 years. Under his leadership, the district grew in terms of facilities, students and curriculum to the point where it was once the fifth-largest school district in the country. He also guided the district toward tripling the rate of students acquiring a Regents diploma while turning Valley Central athletics into an Orange County powerhouse. He would go on to serve as the executive director of both the Mid Hudson School Study Council and state School Boards Association in Albany , representing the interests of kids and teachers across the state.

With his passion for athletics and the value of competition never far from his mind, for 16 years (1983-1999) Dr. Moran served as Section IX's first executive director and was widely regarded as its most influential director. He would also serve for 17 years on the state Public High School Athletic Association Executive Committee, working tirelessly at ensuring leagues in his section teamed up to rewrite the section constitution and bring fair representation in athletics. In 2008, he was inducted into the state Public High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

Survivors include his wife, Carol (nee VanWyck); a daughter, Judy Mottola and her husband, John; three sons, Bill and his wife, Patricia, Mike and his wife, Tracey, and Bob Moran; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 12 at the Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in Walden.

Charitable donations may be made in William's memory to Josephine-Louise Public Library, 1 Municipal Square, Walden, NY 12586, or to Montgomery Food Pantry, P.O. Box 423, Montgomery, NY 12549.

Millspaugh Funeral Directors, 22 Bank St., in Walden, handled his funeral arrangements. To leave an online message of condolence, visit http://www.millspaughfuneralhome.com/.