John Moran, who treated thousands of patients during a long career as a cardiovascular surgeon, died Nov. 24 after a brief illness. He was 94.
Before retiring to Plymouth, he spent his career in academic medicine, holding surgical professorships at Tufts, Loyola, Northwestern, Brown, and the University of Massachusetts. He established Tufts’ coronary surgery program and later helped pioneer electrophysiologic heart surgery at Northwestern.
He trained in surgery at New York Hospital, served in the Air Force Medical Corps, completed residency at Boston City Hospital, and pursued advanced fellowship training at Massachusetts General Hospital and in England.
John was board certified in General and Thoracic Surgery, and a member of all the appropriate medical and surgical societies, including the Boston Surgical Society, American Medical Association, Society of Vascular Surgery, American Association of Thoracic Surgery and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.
He led fundraising efforts for an endowed chair at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in honor of his classmate and good friend O. Ross McIntyre, who established and for many years led the Dartmouth Cancer Center. He also led fundraising efforts for a scholarship fund in honor of former DMS Dean Rolf Syvertsen.
Always humble, he likened his work to “fixing pipes and valves,” calling himself a “human plumber.” He authored more than 120 papers and book chapters and served on the editorial board of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
Born in Nashua, NH, and raised in Jamestown, ND, John was a standout high school athlete and an excellent student. After a postgraduate year at Phillips Exeter Academy, he entered Dartmouth College as a member of the Class of 1954, started the two-year program at Dartmouth Medical School in his senior year, and completed medical school at Cornell in 1957.
After retiring to Plymouth, he remained active in civic life, serving on town committees, representing his precinct, and working with the Pilgrim Society. He pursued many hobbies, making furniture, digging clams, raising chickens, swimming in the ocean, and gardening.
He continued his affiliation with Dartmouth Medical School, serving as the first president of the Alumni Council, a member of the Board of Overseers, DMS ’55 class agent and secretary for many years.
His family remembers him as a son, father, grandfather, uncle, husband, and friend; surgeon, professor, researcher, mentor, and author; steadfast classmate and loyal alumnus; local representative, trustee, committee member, and contributor; lifelong gardener, skier, traveler, woodworker, boat builder, clam digger, composter, and chicken farmer— living a full life defined by humility, kindness, gentle character, and unwavering dedication, accord.
Just days before his death, he celebrated his birthday with his sons, cutting wood, tending his chickens, and enjoying lobster rolls with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 42 years Gretchen (née Hurxthal); sister Sarah Moran; first wife Maya (née Uyterhoeven) Manny and their four sons Thomas (Ellyn Crutcher), Peter (Ingeborg Sacksen), John (Marissa), and Michael (Mary Elizabeth Kenney) Moran; stepsons Marshall and Douglas (Ellen) Ainley; grandchildren Analiesa Sacksen; James, Charles, and Luca Moran; Teegan, Reid, and Maeva Moran; Katherine and Allison Ainley; and seven nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Ken Moran and his nephew Phillip Smith.
Memories of John may be shared at https://www.cartmelldavis.com/obituaries/John-M-Moran?obId=46509356.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dartmouth Cancer Center https://dhmcalumdev.hitchcock.org/giving/cancer-care-support. In accordance with John’s wishes, there will be no formal service. A celebration of life in Plymouth MA is planned for the spring.