Harold Moore Memoriam

Moore, Harold 09/11/1928 ~ 08/02/2014 LAFAYETTE, CA -- Those taught by Harold Moore in his 30+ years as a Microbiology Professor at San Diego State likely had little understanding of how improbable his career was. Born in the small town of Alix, Arkansas in 1928, Harold spent most of his formative years living in a series of small coal mining towns in shacks as his grandfather and uncle worked in one mine after another. Raised by his maternal grandparents, he and his sister Dot grew up guided by their grandmother's Baptist piety, and their grandfather's Scottish humor. The future was bleak from the Depression and the Dust Bowl. But then war came. And with the war came opportunity.The family boarded a bus to San Diego. There Buddy attended Sweetwater High, and dreamed about college. At San Diego State College he discovered microbiology which would be his lifelong vocation. Throughout school he had no permanent home, shuttling between his mother and grandmother's homes, often sleeping in the kitchen where it was warm. Despite the privations, he graduated in 1949 with a degree and a sweetheart, Marion Tanner. Newly married, Harold received both his Master's Degree and PhD at UCLA. In those years they made friends that lasted a lifetime. Harold and Marion returned to San Diego where he taught for more than 30 years. In that time he mentored countless students, and consulted with local hospital labs. He was a tough teacher, but loved teaching, and really enjoyed his students. In later years when memories failed him, he was still able to recall student names, and class curricula with ease. Harold was active at First Presbyterian Church of San Diego as a deacon and elder. He was also very involved in the American Society for Microbiology's national and local chapters. In his spare time he enjoyed golf, gardening and telling a good joke. In later years he enjoyed time with family and was exceedingly proud of his grand daughters. He was much beloved and will be missed. He is survived by his wife of 64 years Marion, daughters Diane Petagna and Linda Moore, sons-in-law Steve Petagna and Mark Liebthal, and granddaughters Christina and Courtney Petagna. A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, January 9th, 2015, from 1 to 3:00 at the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center on the campus of San Diego State University. All are welcome.

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Published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Jan. 3, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Harold Moore

9 Entries

C H

January 16, 2015

Dr. Moore was tough on me during college, but I realized years later that he did it because he knew I could do better and be better. He was an exemplary leader as the head of SDSU's Microbiology Dept. He was a kind and caring person. He came to my wedding, wrote my letters of recommendation for law school, wrote a consoling email to me after my Dad died and much more to mention. He was like a parent and cared about me and my family. He followed my career path from my years as a Microbiologist and currently as an attorney. I saw him 6 years ago at his 80th birthday when he told me again how he was proud of me. For years, I received Christmas cards from him and we continued to stay in touch via emails, but last year the emails ceased. Now I know why. My sincere condolences to Mrs. Moore and family. May God Bless you all. RIP dear friend, colleague, and mentor.

January 13, 2015

Dr. Moore was a great teacher. He was not only an academic but he had practical experience. I am forever thankful for the really good background he gave me in Medical Microbiology. May I offer my condolences to his family and let them know Dr. Moore will be remembered with my love and prayers. Pat (Henneuse) Callander Class of '62

Marion Persons

January 10, 2015

Dear Linda, our deepest sympathy to you, your Mom and sister. Much love,
Marion & Chuck

Marilyn Scharn-Quinlan

January 9, 2015

Dear family of Dr. Moore,
He was such a good man and teacher. I knew him @ SDSU as a workstudy student and from classes in the early years. We were still in the "old" building! Many of his predictions of where Micro was going have come true. He will be in my prayers always.
Marilyn Scharn-Quinlan class of 1962

Will Corwin

January 8, 2015

Dr. Moore was an impeccable teacher, mentor and consultant. He was instrumental in arranging for me to teach a course in Laboratory Management in SDSU Extension.

Wayne Seidel

January 4, 2015

What a great professor and adviser. How well I remember your Microbiology classes. You had a profound influence on my career in Microbiology - Thank you Dr. Moore.

Carl Perry

January 4, 2015

Rest in Peace. Thanks for you gave in this Life as Professor, Mentor and Friend.

January 4, 2015

A story about Dr Moore and me:

I was working the nightshift at 7-11 next to Mission Bay Hospital. I wanted a nightshift job so that I could play golf during the day. Frequently, a gentlemen would stop in to purchase snacks while wearing his lab coat. Finally, I asked him what he did and he told me he was working at the hospital lab while working on his masters at UCSD.

I thought: maybe that is something I could do, so this gentlemen told me to go to Grossmont College and talk to them about education/training for the lab. So I went to Grossmont, but they told me I was at the wrong place, I needed to go to San Diego State. So I walked into the guidance counseling office at San Diego State and explained to them what I was looking for. They told me, we have just the man you want to talk to, and directed me to Dr. Harold Moore's office.

Dr Moore asked to look at my college transcripts. He told me he thought it could be arranged so that I could take all the state license required courses there at San Diego State to qualify to be a Medical Technologist. So Dr Moore arranged for me to take Immunology, Serology Lab, Hematology, Hematology Lab, Pathogenic Bacteriology, and Immunohematology all in one semester. Dr Moore personally took care of waiving all the class prerequisites for me.

On the first day of Pathogenic Bacteriology, which Dr Moore taught, he instructed the class that he had some cultures and that he wanted us to perform gram stains, pull out the microscopes and analyze the gram stains. I sheepishly walked over to Dr Moore and explained I had no idea what a gram stain was and had never used a microscope. For you see, I had never had any previous biology courses that used a microscope.

Dr Moore chuckled and told me, don't worry, I'll work with you. And so it went. I've been a Medical Technologist at Grossmont Hospital for over 25 years, working the nightshift so I can play golf during the day. Thank You, Dr Moore.

-Thomas Armstrong

January 3, 2015

I was a tech at microbiology durin the period he was there. I really enjoyed working for him. Robert Thiltgen

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