Philip R Moran

Philip Moran died peacefully at his home in Augusta, Georgia, on February 27, 2016. Deeply loved by his family and friends, he will be missed immensely. He was known as a gentleman, kindhearted, generous and intelligent with a dry and unique sense of humor. Phil was born on July 11, 1923, in NYC to his late parents, James and Mary (née Fleming) Moran. He graduated from Regis High School and attended Ithaca College and Fordham University before graduating from Columbia University. He was a jazz musician who played the trumpet in his own and other bands in NYC and surrounding areas in the 1930s and 1940s, including such places as the Rainbow Room and Asbury Park. During WWII he was in the 379th Army band at the Newport News Port of Embarkation and remained lifelong friends with his army bandmates. He married the late Julia Porcelli and after starting a family moved from the Lower East Side to then-country Elmsford, N.Y. He was a reporter, writer and editor at numerous newspapers and magazines, including the Ossining Citizen Register, Patent Trader, White Plains Reporter Dispatch and the Greenburgh Inquirer. A widower for many years, at the age of 70 he fell in love with and married the late Barbara Lyons. They embarked on many an adventure including traveling here and abroad, and publishing. During these years he also worked as an adjunct college professor at local community colleges in New York and, after moving to Augusta, in South Carolina. Phil was a devout Catholic, activist and parishioner of Mt. Carmel in Elmsford and then St. Mary on the Hill in Augusta. Phil enjoyed a good story, headline and pun as well as reading the NY Times and finishing its crossword puzzle. He often worked on his novel and learned to use the computer while in his 70s and on into his 90s. His children fondly remember the delicious brunches he cooked on Sundays and the drives in the countryside sharing current and historical events while exploring ruins. For his 90th birthday he joined the world genome project and confirmed he was truly Irish and related to King Niall of Nine Hostages on his paternal side as well as Otsi on his maternal side. Phil was also predeceased by his brother James Moran, his son-in-law Everett "Buddy" Lever and his granddaughter Donna Lever Monk. He leaves behind his children Tery Moran-Lever (late Everett) of Northfield, N.J., Angela (Thomas) Connolly of Stamford, Ct., Joseph (Marie Maud) Moran of Greenburgh, N.Y. and Lauren (Timothy) Petteys of Malden-on-Hudson, N.Y. In addition to his children he is also survived by his brother Edward (Emma) Moran of Syosset, N.Y., his grandchildren Sapphire and Shane Moran, Miranda and Danielle Connolly, Tammy Davidson, Sam and Claire Branman, great-grandchildren Jessica Davidson and Caitlin Harrar and great-great-granddaughter Avianna. He also leaves behind many loving friends including Frances Speer of Augusta and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Friends may call on March 11 between 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm at Ballard-Durand Funeral Home (Elmsford Chapel), 72 E. Main St., Elmsford. Mass will be March 12 at 10 am at Our Lady of Carmel, 59 E. Main St., Elmsford, followed by his burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery, 575 W. Hillside Ave. White Plains. Memorial service in Georgia at a later date.