It is with great sadness that Concern Worldwide US mourns the untimely passing of our former Chairman, friend, and legendary philanthropist, Tom Moran.
Tom passed away in New York, on Sunday August 12th, after a short illness.
A titan of the Irish-American community in New York, Tom was an astute and successful businessman. He joined Mutual of America in a junior administrative role in 1975 and rose through the ranks over four decades to become Chairman, CEO, and President, before his eventual retirement in 2016. It was at Mutual that Tom met his wife Joan. The couple married in 1983, and shared a love of family and friends and a passion for philanthropy. Joan was by his side to the end.
“For all his life, Tom Moran was a beacon of goodness in so many parts of the world where both hope and generosity had not been seen for generations,” said Concern Worldwide US Board Chair Joanna Geraghty. “Tom demanded that we see not what was, but what could be. What should be. What ought to be.”
Tom Moran became involved in Concern Worldwide after a meeting with Fr. Aengus Finucane, who was at the time laying the groundwork for a US base for Ireland’s largest international humanitarian organization. The two men developed a deep and lasting friendship, and for over two decades, Tom relentlessly drove the growth of Concern US, investing time, resources, and an endless amount of passion and energy into the development of the organization.
“Tom was not born to interpret this world, but to change it. And change it he did. For men and women who were given little or nothing, he gave his all,” said Geraghty. “Millions of children across the world have never had a better friend whose name they may never know.”
From 2001 to 2017, Tom Moran chaired the board of Concern US and served on the board of Concern Worldwide in Ireland. His passion for humanitarianism and helping others was only matched by his love for Ireland, as he played a crucial role throughout the Northern Ireland peace process. In 2015, he was presented with the prestigious Irish Presidential Distinguished Services Award, which recognizes: “those who have served Ireland with distinction and actively contributed to the country in a sustained manner.” That same year, he became Chancellor of Queen’s University in Belfast.
Tom visited Concern’s operations regularly, traveling to some of the most challenging and dangerous locations on earth, to meet with staff and the people they serve. His humble attitude and good nature left a lasting impression with those he met. On a visit to war-torn and famine-ravaged Somalia, Tom sat with displaced families and grieving mothers, listening to their stories and providing support and encouragement. In Afghanistan he traveled to remote villages and met farming families struggling to cope with climate change and drought. And always he would return with a renewed commitment to helping their cause.
“Tom cared so much for those living in extreme poverty — he had an incredible connection with them,” according to Concern U.S. CEO, Colleen Kelly. “He was not just words — but the epitome of action. He fought for Concern — and did whatever he could to move the cause forward.”
Concern Worldwide is not the only organization to have benefited from Tom’s generosity; he helped numerous charities, often anonymously. In 2012, Moran was inducted into the Irish America Hall of Fame, in recognition of “the extraordinary achievements of Irish-American leaders, from their significant accomplishments and contributions to American society to the personal commitment to safeguarding their Irish heritage and the betterment of Ireland.”
In addition to these awards, Moran was honored with others, including Irish American of the year in 2008 and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which celebrates “remarkable Americans who exemplify outstanding qualities in both their personal and professional lives, while continuing to preserve the richness of their particular heritage.”
“He did so much for so many people — mostly without anyone knowing about it. He was kind, witty, passionate — and loved to tell a good story,” said Colleen Kelly. “He made a huge impact in the world — and because of that, will never be forgotten.”
Funeral services will be held for Tom Moran at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York on Friday, August 17th.
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