Thomas J. Moran (October 14, 1952 – August 12, 2018) was an American businessman, philanthropist, academic administrator, and humanitarian. At the time of his death, he was chairman emeritus of Mutual of America and the chancellor of Queen's University Belfast.
Early life and education
Moran was born on Staten Island to Lillian Moran (née Quaranta) and John Moran, and attended
St. Joseph Hill Academy
St. Joseph Hill Academy is an American private Pre-K 3 through
12th grade Catholic school, located in the Arrochar neighborhood of Staten Island, New York.
Located on a scenic campus (which eponymously stands atop a hill, providing views of ...
and graduated from
Monsignor Farrell High School
Monsignor Farrell High School is an American Catholic high school for boys, located in the Oakwood section of Staten Island, New York.
Opened in 1961, the school is named in honor of Monsignor Joseph Farrell, a Catholic priest, as well as a re ...
.
Moran graduated from Manhattan College with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics in 1974. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Manhattan College in 2017. Moran also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from th College of Mount Saint Vincent and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from
Moran began his career with Mutual of America in 1975, and became the first President to be appointed from within the company in 1994. In October 1995, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer and remained in this role for 21 years, before retiring in April 2016. He was appointed Chairman of the Board in June 2005, a position he held until he retired in May 2018. Moran was instrumental in the company's growth to a mutual life insurance company with over $20 billion in assets.
Moran served in several insurance industry leadership positions, including his service as Chairman of the Life Insurance Council of New York and Chairman of the
MIB Group
MIB Group, Inc. or MIB (formerly the Medical Information Bureau) is a membership corporation owned by approximately 430 member insurance companies in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1902 and based in Braintree, Massachusetts, MIB provide ...
. He was an advisory board member to the "Observatory on Europe 2007", improving European competitiveness and integration. Moran presented at the
World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international non-governmental and lobbying organisation based in Cologny, canton of Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded on 24 January 1971 by German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab. The foundation, ...
in Davos and at the Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates. He also served on the board of directors of the Bank of Ireland and
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus ( ; an anglicisation of the Irish , meaning "air fleet" compare Welsh 'llynges awyr') is the flag carrier of Ireland. Founded by the Irish Government, it was privatised between 2006 and 2015 and it is now a wholly owned subsidiary ...
.
Moran also served on many not-for-profit boards, including the board of the New York Catholic Foundation, the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation, American Cancer Society, the Greater New York Councils of the Boy Scouts, the Viscardi Center,
WNET
WNET (channel 13), branded on-air as "Thirteen" (stylized as "THIRTEEN"), is a primary PBS member television station licensed to Newark, New Jersey, United States, serving the New York City area. Owned by The WNET Group (formerly known as the ...
, Manhattan College, the
National Committee on American Foreign Policy
The National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP) is an American nonprofit, nonpartisan activist organization dedicated to the resolution of conflicts that threaten United States interests.
Founded in 1974 by Hans Morgenthau, the orga ...
Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School
The UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School is the graduate business school of University College Dublin (UCD) and is located in Blackrock, Dublin, Ireland, on the site of the former teacher-training Carysfort College. Undergraduate bu ...
.
In recognition of his business success and commitment to caring, Moran received numerous awards, including the Calvary Hospital Medal of Honor, the St. Elizabeth Seton Award from the National Catholic Education Association, the Terence Cardinal Cooke Medal, the New York City Fire Department Humanitarian Award, the commissioner's Award by the New York City Police Foundation, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. For his support of the international relief organization, Concern Worldwide, Moran was recognized by the prime minister of Ireland, who commented that "his selfless actions have improved the lives of thousands." In 2015, Moran received the Irish Presidential Service Award. He was singled out as a humanitarian, philanthropist and influential voice in the Irish peace process, who consistently championed reconciliation.
After Moran's death in 2018, former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee,
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States sen ...
, was selected to succeed him as chancellor of Queen's University Belfast. She officially took office in January 2020.
Personal life
Moran lived in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
and Spring Lake, New Jersey, with Joan (nee Maloney), his wife of over 35 years. Moran died in New York, with Joan at his side, after suffering from a short illness. He was 65. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered for Moran at Saint Patrick's Cathedral, with Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, and a personal friend of Tom's, serving as officiant.