Dr. Richard Moriarty was a pediatrician, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, and the director of the Pittsburgh Poison Center, arguably best known as the creator of Mr. Yuk, a widely used symbol to alert people – especially kids – that a substance is poisonous.
- Died: September 7, 2023 (Who else died on September 7?)
- Details of death: Died in Pittsburgh at the age of 83.
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Dr. Richard Moriarty’s legacy
Raised in Lawrenceville and a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh, Moriarty earned his medical degree in 1966 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he eventually became a professor in the Department of Pediatrics. He was on the faculty in various capacities from 1969 to 1977, then served as Associate Professor and Associate Clinical Professor from 1977 to 2004.
Moriarity left his mark when he founded the Pittsburgh Poison Center at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in 1971. At the time, the facility had just one person on a telephone line. He expanded it to a fully staffed, 24-hour facility. He also placed a major focus on poison prevention education. Part of that effort was the creation of Mr. Yuk, a green sticker featuring an ill-faced character that clearly does not like what they ingested. In the 50 years since its creation, the emoji-like symbol has become a warning for poison across the world.
In addition to his work with the University of Pittsburgh, Moriarity ran a private pediatric practice. He was also a philanthropist, serving on the boards of the Pittsburgh Public Theater and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and helping promote programs such as the Carnegie Discoverers.
Notable quote
“I hope I saved a lot of people. I just wanted to help.” —from a 2021 interview in the Tribune-Review
Tributes to Dr. Richard Moriarty
Full obituary: John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc. Funeral Directors
