John Robert Moore

Much like that distinguished tree in the landscape, John had deep roots, a strong core, and a strength balanced with flexibility that allowed him to move gracefully with the shifting winds of life. He provided a warm welcome and reassurance, shade and a respite, and a refreshing, wise, often unique perspective. Perhaps only after the beloved and respected tree has fallen and the massive void revealed, can we fully recognize its beauty, countless gifts, and profound significance.

John Robert Moore died on June 15, 2023 at the age of 72 after a brief, acute struggle with Multiple Myeloma. He was born In Santiago, Chile to Robert W and Jean Hunter Moore. With his father being a Foreign Service officer, John was exposed to different cultures and a multitude of peoples and views. At age 3 and 4 while living in Surabaya, Indonesia he exclusively spoke Indonesian, reportedly very eloquently for a four year old. In Glasgow, Scotland when out for a walk in his stroller, he was mistaken for a young Prince Charles. It was there in Glasgow at the family residence that he decided to bury his mother's silver. Whether living in Quito, Ecuador or Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia or traveling with family members in Europe, Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Africa, he developed an insatiable curiosity, an openness to numerous perspectives and ways of living, and an appreciation of histories and traditions.

John graduated high school from Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. In 1973 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College of the Arts and Sciences at Duke University. While at Duke, he was on the Duke Swim Team, worked in the dorm cafeteria, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and became forever passionate and loyal to the Duke Blue Devils, especially their basketball team. In 1980, he received a Doctorate of Philosophy from Purdue University in Industrial Organizational Psychology. He worked for several years as an Industrial Organizational Psychologist and consultant. He then spent twenty plus years working in Human Resources at the University of Texas at Austin, spearheading a team in Compensation and Classification and later as Director of Work Force Analytics. He valued and enjoyed his colleagues, their professionalism and friendship, and was proud of their work and accomplishments.

In the late 70's John met his future life partner, Sally Grenard, while attending NTL Institute in Bethel, Maine. They were both graduate students at Purdue University and were attending an institute for graduate students focused on advancing human systems growth and development. Although their backgrounds were vastly different, they shared a love of learning, interest in human behavior, social justice, and similar core values. They were married for almost forty-two years and enjoyed sharing in all that life presented, including enthusiastically welcoming their son, Andrew, into the world. John loved being a parent and embraced being a soccer and basketball coach, volunteering at Andrew's elementary school, and attending soccer tournaments, basketball games, and other school activities. He enjoyed Andrew's friends and watching them become caring and successful wonderful adults and parents of their own children. John found satisfaction and contentment in helping create a warm and inviting home where family and friends were always welcomed. He enjoyed reading, attending art and musical events, working in his beautiful yard, serving as Sally's sous chef when having family and friends for dinner, being a student of yoga, supporting and cheering for Austin FC MLS soccer team, and taking his dogs for long walks.

John will forever be remembered for his thoughtfulness and kindness, for his strong intellect and dedication to life long learning, for his sense of wonder, intrigue, and curiosity, for his ability to attend to the smallest of detail whiling never forgetting the bigger vision, for his collaborative style and respectful nature, for his gentleness and independence, for his warm smile and contagious laughter, for his dry sense of humor, for his ability to make no sharp distinction between his work and play, for his understated nature, for his inability to do anything in a half-hearted way, and for his deep love, devotion, and enjoyment of family, home, friends, and his four legged canines. Simply said, he was a good human being, a good son and brother, a good colleague, neighbor and friend. He was a wonderful spouse and father and an extraordinary Boopa (grandfather).

He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Jean Hunter Moore, aunt Doris Hunter, aunt Mary Beyer (Al) and uncle Robert Hunter (Gladys), sister-in-law Susan Hess, and father-in-law Byron Grenard, cousin Tom Beyer, and his much loved four legged companions Sherlock, Phantom, and Moxie.

He is survived by his spouse and best friend Sally Grenard-Moore, his beloved son Andrew Grenard and daughter-in-law Jessica Grenard, the rainbow and sunshine of his life, his delightful grandchildren Juniper Grenard and Owen Grenard, brothers Daniel Moore and William Moore (Frances), brother-in-law Doug Grenard (Lanna), his niece Kathryn Moore and nephews Ian Moore, Emerson Grenard, and Clint Grenard. He is also survived and greatly missed by his sweet Golden Retriever Watson.

We are grateful for the expertise, dedication, and care given by the St. David's Hospital medical team, for our wonderful family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors who have supported, cared, and performed loving acts of kindness during this difficult time.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Sunday, October 22, 2023 beginning at 9:00 am at Umlauf Sculpture Garden, 605 Azie Morton Road, Austin, Tx 78704. Donations can be made in his memory to Austin Pets Alive, Central Texas Food Bank, Foundation Communities, or World Central Kitchen.