Obituary of Joseph W. Moran

Moran, Joseph W., BS, MAAA, [FSA?], BSI, ASH Joe Moran, 86, a longtime resident of Larchmont, NY, died of natural causes Feb. 18, 2014, in his home in Mamaroneck, NY. Born Nov. 22, 1927 in Cleveland, OH, to Charles F. and Mary (Gans) Moran. Graduated Yale class of '49, Phi Beta Kappa. Passed all 9 actuarial exams in his teens - according to family lore, the youngest ever to do so at the time. Applied his brilliance in math to a 43-year actuarial career with New York Life Insurance Co., starting while still an actuarial student, later advancing through the ranks ultimately to a VP position. MAAA,1965; [FSA?*] Retired 1992; continued work as Consulting Actuary. Joe's love of sports was enhanced by his love of statistics. He played on championship teams in high school, and according to a Yale classmate, participated "in just about every sport" in his college years. Active pursuits beyond college included golf, sailing, team bowling, and tennis. Member of Orienta Beach Club since 1957. Actively served for decades with the Assn. of Yale Alumni, including as class agent, class treasurer. Early adopter of personal computer, [leading the way for Yale in] tracking Class Fund activity on Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheets. Involved with planning committee for 65th reunion he was looking forward to attending this May. Longtime member and dedicated volunteer, former Trustee, Larchmont Avenue Church. Joe's interest in Sherlock Holmes first emerged in his youth. In 1980's, joined multiple Sherlockian societies in the NYC area in the 1980's, finding the perfect milieu for his detail-focused, logic-driven mind and quirky sense of humor. Retirement from NY Life opened the way for full-time immersion in things Sherlockian. His decades-long primary mission: to defend the Moran family name! Member of the Baker Street Irregulars, invested in 1991 as "Sir Augustus Moran, C.B.;" joined ASH (Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes) in 2008 with the investiture "An Honorable Soldier;" active member of additional local societies - attending virtually every meeting within a hundred mile radius, regularly providing rides to other members. Survived by brother, Richard T. Moran, of Wyoming, OH; step-mother, Eliner Moran, of Cape Coral, FL; 3 children, Douglas (Laura) of Denver, CO, Kathleen of Minneapolis, MN, Clifford of Ridgefield, CT; 4 grandchildren, Sarah, Dennis, Erica and Lisa. He will surely also be missed by his tennis partners, the Thursday night dinner group, and numerous friends and colleagues at church, among Yale alumni, at Orienta Beach Club, in actuarial circles, and in Sherlockian societies around the world. Joe had the good fortune to see his children grow up and find their personal/professional paths, and to take pride in knowing each of his grandchildren into early adulthood. Overall good health enabled him to continue to play tennis, serve his church and alumni association, and travel to Sherlockian gatherings until his sudden departure. The family requests that donations in Joe's memory be directed to the Larchmont Avenue Church's "Faith in our Future" Centennial Fund, which he helped to establish (www.lacny.org), or to the Beacon Society in support of future generations of Sherlockians (www.beaconsociety.com). Furthermore, we may each continue to honor Joe and his legacy when we offer our time, talents, and diligence in service to organizations important to us, and when we take delight in the absurdities of life. "The game is afoot!"... and continue it shall, now minus one of its cherished enthusiasts. Rest in peace, Joe. [I found out that the game-is-afoot expression, tho' often linked with Sherlock Holmes, is originally a quote of Shakespeare's…] A memorial Service will be held on March 1, 2014, 11:00 AM at the Larchmont Ave. Presbyterian Church at the corner of Larchmont and Forest Park Avenues. A reception in the church hall will follow the memorial service. All friends, relatives and colleagues are welcome.