Thomas Francis Moran - Obituary

homas “Tom” Francis Moran, age 95, passed away peacefully on December 1st . Born July 2nd 1929, in Mount Savage MD, he was a longtime resident of Oxon Hill MD until he and Ginger, his loving wife of 66 years, moved to Greenspring Retirement Community 13 years ago. Ginger, passed away in 2023 with him by her side. Tom was widely known in the community, and was a positive, loved, and dynamic participant in everything he did. He couldn’t go anywhere in Oxon Hill without running into former students and staff, each greeted with a huge smile and conversation, leaving them all to walk away knowing that he cared about them personally and the affection was always mutual. He was a graduate of Frostburg State College in 1953 and received his Master of Education degree from George Washington University in 1963. Following graduation from Frostburg, he began a long successful career as an educator, first, teaching at Suitland Senior High School. There he met Ginger, who he told on their first date that they would marry. They were married at Saint Ignatius Catholic Church in 1956. Tom and Ginger became charter members of Saint Columba Catholic Church upon its founding in 1960. Saint Columba quickly became the center of their social, spiritual, and service-to-others life. Along the way they had 5 children, as Tom balanced his career by being active in service with the Knights of Columbus where he served as Grand Knight, and the Rotary Club, where he served as President. Following his time in the classroom Tom began his career as an administrator, first serving as Vice Principal of Bladensburg Junior High, then Principal at Benjamin Stoddard Junior High School before being promoted to Principal at Oxon Hill High School in 1970. He cherished his time at Oxon Hill and was universally loved and admired as he served there for 13 years. He finished his public-school career by serving as principal at Frederick Douglas High School before retiring to start a career as an administrator in the Catholic School system. He served as Principal of St. Joseph’s Regional Catholic School in Beltsville MD for 11 years before retiring once again. In 2001 he came out of retirement to serve for a year as Superintendent of Schools for the 105 school Washington Archdiocese, after which he retired for the final time. Throughout his professional and personal life, he was relentlessly positive in outlook, optimistic and forgiving. He would never turn down a sincere request for a second chance, and his instincts and faith in humanity were proved correct on many occasions. He had a great sense of humor and seemed to have a song to match any situation. And despite having scant family resources when his father died young, he found ways to work his way through high school, college and graduate school and never complained about the challenges he faced. Rather, he took them in stride and his characteristic modesty. In these many ways he became a wonderful role model for his students, his staff, and most of all his loving family. Family was first for him, and he enjoyed many hobbies, mostly centered around spending time with family and friends. He had a love for being on the golf course, spending time in his garden, having a catch with his kids in the yard when he got home from work, fishing and enjoying time at his beloved cabin in West Virginia, and spending time on numerous adventures and sharing laughs with his 5 grandchildren. It was also rare you ever had a conversation with him without him mentioning his home town of Mount Savage, which to him represented family. He is survived by his sons, Thomas Moran and his wife Brooks of Oakton VA; Kevin Moran and partner Stacy Neuberger of Dothan AL; Tim Moran and wife Lori of Nashville TN; Mike Moran and wife Jennifer of Haymarket VA; daughter Margaret Moran and partner Rosie Sjam of Alexandria; and grandchildren, Grady Moran and wife Jiranan; Patrick Moran and wife Katy; Kathleen Moran; Mason Moran; and McKinley Moran. Relatives and friends are invited to Thomas' Life Celebration on Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the KALAS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD 20745. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 10 a.m. at St. Columba Catholic Church, 7800 Livingston Rd., Oxon Hill, MD 20745. Interment to follow at St. Barnabas Church Cemetery, 5203 St. Barnabas Rd., Temple Hills, MD 20748.