Joseph Moran

Joseph "Joe" Moran was born March 13, 1933, and raised in the Miners Mills section of Wilkes-Barre, the son of the late Beatrice and James A. Moran Sr. A 1950 graduate of Coughlin High School, he served as senior class president, earned varsity letters in football, wrestling, and track, and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He later attended the University of Scranton on an athletic scholarship, earning a bachelor's degree in electronics.

Following graduation, Joe worked as an associate engineer with Martin Aircraft (now Lockheed Martin) in Baltimore before answering his calling in education. He began his teaching and coaching career at Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School in Clark, New Jersey, and returned to the Wyoming Valley in 1959 to teach physics at his alma mater, Coughlin High School. During his years of teaching, Joe completed extensive graduate work as a National Science Foundation Scholar at institutions including Boston College, Fordham University, Bucknell University, and the University of Scranton, earning a graduate degree in educational administration. He was invited to present at the 1964 National Science Teachers Association national convention and later served in the physics cadre of the National Science and Mathematics Improvement Project at Wilkes University.

While proud of his academic achievements, Joe was best known for his lifelong dedication to athletics and the young people he coached. He served as head football and track coach at Coughlin from 1960 to 1972, leading his football teams to 85 wins, seven City Championships, and one League Championship. His track teams were just as successful, winning several carnivals and district events. In 1973, he became athletic director at Coughlin and joined the Wilkes College football staff as line coach, helping secure three Division III Middle Atlantic Championships. In recognition of his lifelong contributions, Joe was inducted into the Luzerne County Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.

Joe was instrumental in shaping high school athletics throughout the Wyoming Valley. He co-founded both the Scholastic Tennis Conference and the Wilkes-Barre Area Elementary Basketball League, served as co-commissioner of the Wyoming Valley Track and Field Conference, organized the state's first girls' junior high district track meet, and held leadership roles with the Wyoming Valley Football Conference, Eastern Football Conference, and State Committee for Scholastic Football. He was also instrumental in bringing the Irish Heritage Race to Harveys Lake and served on its committee for its more than 20-year run.

An active PIAA track and swimming official, Joe co-directed the District II Swimming and Diving Championships for 15 years. In 2005, he received an invitation to officiate at the MAC Collegiate Swimming Championships.

Joe's coaching was guided by a simple philosophy: "It's for the kids." He believed deeply in education and opportunity, launching one of the first SAT preparation programs for student-athletes to help open doors to higher education. Whether on the sidelines or officiating, he always took time to teach, encourage, and make sure every athlete had a fair chance. He was especially proud of the lives his players went on to lead — among them doctors, lawyers, bankers, educators, administrators, two Emmy Award winners, and a state representative.

As an administrator, Joe was named assistant principal at Coughlin in 1982, where he helped usher the school into the computer age. In 1993, he became junior high principal at GAR, establishing a state-of-the-art technology center, and later served as acting principal. He retired in 1998.

Retirement only deepened his community involvement. Joe was elected to the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board in 2000, serving as vice president and then president. He was an advocate for accessible, high-quality education and helped lay the groundwork for the district's consolidated high school at its current location. He also held leadership roles with the Joint Operating Committee of the Wilkes-Barre Area Vocational-Technical School, the Wilkes-Barre City Police Civil Service Commission, the Warden Place Improvement Association, and was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick.

Joe was married to the former Frances Hayer of Bear Creek. Together, they raised six children: Sean (Karen), Kevin (Libby), Patty (Steve Moorhead), Kelley (Steve Niemas, deceased), Mollie, and Brian (Lori). He was the proud grandfather of Ryan (Janelle), Erin, and Ian (Krista) Moran, Amanda (Alex Kelechava), Mickey (Alana), and Matthew Moorhead. He was also a devoted great-grandfather to Kellan and Keira Moran, Max and Mia Kelechava, with a fifth great-grandchild expected in February.

Joe is survived by his sister, Marie Dunnington; numerous nieces and nephews; and the many members of his extended family.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances; his sister, Beatrice Tanski; and brothers, James Jr. and John.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, in Ss. Peter and Paul Church, 13 Hudson Road, Plains Township, with Father John C. Lambert, pastor, officiating. A livestream of the funeral Mass will be available on the parish Facebook page.

Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Township.

Family and friends may call from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at Kielty-Moran Funeral Home, 87 Washington Ave., Plymouth, or from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Joseph A. Moran Scholarship Fund, c/o The Luzerne Foundation, 34 S. River St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.