MARSHALL F. MORAN

Marshall F. Moran Marshall F. Moran, 86, passed away peacefully on June 23 after a period of declining health. He was ready to "go home" to his beloved wife, Jackie, who passed away in 2009. Marshall was born in Oakland to Sarah and Thomas Moran, who raised five rambunctious children. He attended Saint Ignatius High School where he excelled at competitive swimming and Santa Clara University. He interrupted his schooling to enlist in the Army where his bravery in the European theater earned him a Silver Star and a Purple Heart for a severe wound in combat. After the war, Marshall finished college and soon entered the growing family plumbing supply business Moran Supply, started by his father. On a blind date in 1947 arranged by his sister, Ginnie, he met the love of his life, Jacqueline Blanquie, on a hike along the Dipsey Trail to Stinson Beach. He and Jackie married and lived in Orinda for 61 years, building their first home there in 1948. They passed on to their seven children the best elements of their Irish and French heritages. The family calendar was anchored by the annual summer vacation to the beach at Aptos and a Thanksgiving celebration at Monterey Dunes (both involving 20 to 30 people in the later years as the family grew). Marshall's personal passions were food, tennis, golf, travel, the study of history and politics, and food. Jackie and he traveled much of the globe and relished in meeting fellow travelers while savoring the local cuisines and culture. He loved long swims in the ocean well beyond the waves at Aptos beach. Marshall valued education above all. He encouraged, cajoled, or did whatever it took to get his seven children through college, and often graduate degrees. He was an active participant in FACE, an Oakland charity that provides scholarships to local disadvantaged children so they can attend Catholic grammar schools. He also helped many people over the decades recover from addiction through the Alcoholics Anonymous program. Marshall will be dearly missed by his six children: Michele Culberson, Marshall Jr. (Charlene), Christine, Therese (Steve Schmid), Susan (Tom McKinnon) and Mark (Liz Fitzgerald); nine grandchildren; one great grandchild; and many extended family members. He was predeceased by his beloved Jackie and son, Brian. The family would like to thank Mele Sanft for her loving home healthcare of Marshall and, previously, Jackie. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Thursday, June 28 at 11 a.m. at Santa Maria Church in Orinda. Donations in lieu of flowers are kindly appreciated in Marshall's memory to Family Aid-Catholic Education (FACE), 2121 Harrison St, St 100, Oakland, CA 94612, or to the charity of your choice.