William Frederick "Bill" Moore
April 18, 1941 - April 12, 2023
Bill Moore made the world brighter. He saw the inherent dignity and brilliance in every person, and helped us all be the best version of ourselves. He approached life with joy and humor, and was a consummate storyteller. Many of his stories were of his wild childhood antics, growing up alongside his brothers Leslie and Robert T. Moore in Dallas, Texas. He was raised by parents Robert L. and May Beth Moore, and nurtured by Ester Mary Richardson. As a child, he and his pet rooster, Chickaboo, were the best of friends. Bill graduated from Yale University in 1963 with a BA in Architecture, then earned his MA in Architecture from Yale in 1966. He maintained a lifelong relationship with the university, serving on the board of the Association of Yale Alumni, as a director of the Yale Club of New Haven, a member of its Alumni Schools Committee, an Associate Fellow of Berkeley College, and as the architect of several buildings on campus. In retirement, he audited no fewer than 30 Yale courses, gleefully surrounding himself with new ideas and with youthful energy and intellect. Bill served as a parental figure for generations of Yale students who were far from home. Their friendship enriched his life in countless ways. He practiced architecture for 45 years - most of that time as a partner in his New Haven firm Roth and Moore Architects. The buildings he and his colleagues designed include award-winning spaces for relationships and ideas to grow: libraries, schools, centers for religious life, an observatory, science centers, a theater and more. For every project, he dove into learning from people whose perspectives were different from his own. He was an artist, an appreciator of details and a gifted diplomat who loved to shepherd diverse stakeholders toward common ground. In 1965, he married Julia Duff, the love of his life. He was a devoted parent to Lisa; a loving in-law to Vinetta; and the most playful and creative grandparent Kiran could dream of. Bill's community and chosen family were vast, and he welcomed everyone in with his powerful embrace. He knew how to celebrate life's triumphs, as well as how to clear obstacles and help shoulder burdens when the going got tough. He famously offered to assist his beloveds with any and every task, and was a confidant and a sounding board to many. He honored all working people, especially those whose labor is undervalued but makes everything else possible. He was a champion of struggles for justice and the common good. Bill found pleasure in simple things: lying in his hammock with the rustle of leaves overhead; unleashing the tumble of his grandson's laughter; paddling his kayak in the cool waters of lakes, oceans and rivers. He had an eye and an appreciation for the natural divine. While he accomplished much in life, he will be best remembered for how he made people feel: seen, valued and joyful. One of his care providers said he was "like a warm bowl of oatmeal on a cold winter day." He was fully vibrant and vivacious right up until the second of two strokes in late February, 2023. At that point, he lost much of his ability to speak, but still was able to articulate what mattered most: "Thank you, wonderful people. I love you." Bill is buried in Grove Street Cemetery, in the heart of New Haven, the city he chose as his forever home.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 27th at 11:00 at Spring Glen Church, 1825 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, Connecticut. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven's Church of the Redeemer Community Legacy Fund: <https://www.cfgnh.org/articles/church-of-the-redeemer-community-legacy-fund> . To share memories of Bill and messages of condolence, please visit www.beecherandbennett.com .