IN MEMORIAM:
John A. Moran
A Generous Philanthropist — a Dream to Restore Vision
John A. Moran often shared a simple mantra: “You won’t be remembered for how much money you made; you will be remembered for what you did with it.” Upon his passing on September 23, 2023, at the age of 91, Moran was recognized not only as a business leader whose success exemplified the American Dream, but also as a man who heeded his own words. Moran dedicated much of the wealth he earned during his finance career to worthy nonprofit organizations nationwide. At the University of Utah, his beloved alma mater, he left a beacon of hope bearing his name: the John A. Moran Eye Center. Moran wanted the center to provide compassionate care and make breakthroughs in research to improve the treatment of blinding eye diseases. “It is my hope that the research and the work that’s being done here will prevent diseases of the eye that cause blindness, and God willing, restore sight to people who have lost their vision,” said Moran in tearful remarks at a news conference opening the current Moran Eye Center building. Today, the center he championed is ranked among the 10 best in the nation for its care, education, and research and is known for its outreach to increase access to eye care in Utah and around the world.
“John’s death leaves a huge hole in our hearts,” says Moran Eye Center CEO Randall J Olson, MD. “He was a true friend with a desire to help others, and his dedication to our vision to provide hope, understanding, and treatment deeply motivated me and everyone at Moran to strive for excellence. We share our condolences with the Moran family, we honor John’s extraordinary life, and we are thankful to be a part of his legacy.” Moran was born in Los Angeles on March 22, 1932, and his family moved to Salt Lake City in 1941. His father, who did not attend college, stressed the importance of an education. After high school, Moran enrolled at the University of Utah and worked as a city flag boy for the Salt Lake City road crew, rewinding signal wire at Hill Air Force Base, and as a waiter to pay his tuition. He was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity at the U. Moran’s father passed away from cancer shortly before his son earned a banking and finance degree in 1954. After graduation, Moran spent three years in the U.S. Navy and served as an intelligence officer on the staff of the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific fleet from 1955 to 1958. He then began his finance career at investment banking firm Blyth & Company Inc.
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