Charles Francis Moran

Charles Francis Moran passed away peacefully on August 19, 2019, just 15 days shy of his 99th birthday. Charles, known as Chuck, lived a long, healthy life, and will be remembered as a true gentleman. He lived his life honestly and intelligently, with a devotion to his family, and a lifelong belief in his Catholic faith.

Chuck was born in Waukegan, IL, on September 3, 1920 to parents Charles and Elizabeth (Carolan) Moran. The family moved to Pasadena, CA, in 1921, and soon welcomed his sister Ann. Chuck grew up in Pasadena during the Great Depression, an era of history that had a large impact on his future work ethic and life long integrity.

Chuck attended St. Elizabeth, in Altadena, CA, Longfellow Elementary and Eliot Jr. High School, in Pasadena, CA, and Pasadena High School, graduating in 1938. He was a trumpet player in his youth, marching in four Tournament of Roses Parades, and playing in dance bands while in college. He marched in the 1929 Rose Bowl Parade, and was given a ticket to attend the game, personally witnessing Roy “Wrong Way” Riegels scoop up a fumble and mistakenly run toward his own team’s end zone.

Chuck attended and played varsity baseball at Pasadena Junior College (PJC, now Pasadena City College) in 1938, with a young, up and comer, Jack “Jackie” Robinson, and told stories of his days as a ‘bench player’ and score keep, an experience that would set him up as a lifelong baseball fan, both during his son’s little league days, as well as following the SF Giants all of his adult life.

After graduating from PJC, he attended his first college year at UC Berkeley before serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Following the war, he returned to university in the UC system, first at UCLA, and then back to Cal, to continue his studies in civil engineering. Chuck graduated from UC Berkeley in 1948 with his B.S.C.E. Chuck began his career with the Los Angeles County’s Departments of Roads and Building and Safety. He then accepted a position with the Portland Cement Association in LA, and remained with the organization for 20 years, eventually being promoted to open their San Francisco office.

In SF, Chuck met Barbara Wood on a blind date arranged by close friends, and they married at St. Brigid Church in SF on March 31, 1962. The couple had three children and settled in Greenbrae, Marin County, CA. Chuck was an active and loving dad in his children’s lives, driving to girl scout activities, playing catch at little league games, and cheering on volleyball matches. He was always willing to drive friends and classmates to any school, neighborhood or sports activity in the Moran family station wagon.

The Moran family made many summer vacation trips to the Cal Alumni Association’s (CAA) ‘Lair of the Golden Bear’ in Pinecrest, CA, where daughter Carolan eventually worked, and Chuck remained an active Cal Bears fan and Alumni supporter.

Chuck’s career took him to several private engineering firms before he retired in the late 1980’s. Throughout his career, he was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Portland Cement Association, and a Fellow of the American Concrete Institute, an honor he highly regarded.

Chuck and Barbara moved to Santa Rosa, CA in the late 1980’s and enjoyed an active retirement, before eventually moving to Petaluma, CA in 2010. Chuck was an avid golfer, both as a player and an armchair commentator of the PGA circuit. Recruited by prior Greenbrae friends, Chuck was a member of the SIRS Branch 134, where he improved his game to winning his flight in the SIR CA State Golf Championship tournament in 1993. He also touted 2 ‘holes in one’ during his amateur golf career.

Throughout their marriage, Chuck and Barbara loved to travel, both domestically and internationally, and participate in historical lectures and architectural/building tours, often organized by Elderhostel and CAA’s Bear Treks. He kept detailed records of all their trips, dates and travel destinations, and their trip mementos filled their homes. Along with his cousin John Tulley, Chuck planned for the Carolan family ‘Cousins Reunions’ over the years, in cities in the Midwest and in

California, to remain close with his many first cousins. Chuck and Barbara celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary several weeks before her passing in 2017.

Chuck was a member of the Catholic Church, as a parishioner at St. Sebastian Church in Kentfield, Cathedral of St. Eugene in Santa Rosa, and, in his final years, at St. James in Petaluma. Well into his 80’s and 90’s, Chuck often surprised his doctors, friends, and strangers when he revealed his age, as he looked and lived like someone 10-15 years younger. The thoughtfulness, intelligence, and entirety of who Chuck was at nearly the age of 99 was never more pronounced than in the final few weeks of his life, weeks spent surrounded by his children, love from his family, and his lifelong faith in God.

Preceded in death by his wife Barbara (Wood) and his sister Ann (Mrs. Lou Lemoine), Chuck is survived by his children Carolan, Tom (Jackie) and Patricia. Also surviving are his nephews, Larry (Kim) Lemoine of Manhattan Beach, CA, their children Elyse and Lauren; and Chuck (Sandy) Lemoine of Encinitas, CA, son Scott; and cousin John Tulley (Mabel) of Pasadena, CA.

Chuck’s children would like to express their profound gratitude to the staff, doctors and nurses at Kaiser Hospital, San Rafael, for their love, care and respect they showed our Dad during his short time there.

A Funeral Mass, to which all are invited, will be held Tuesday, September 17 at 11:00 a.m., at St. James Catholic Church at 125 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma, CA. A lunch reception in the Church hall will immediately follow. Burial services will be held in the afternoon during a private family ceremony. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Relief Services or Doctors Without Borders.

St. James Catholic Church