January 15th, 1930 – April 3rd, 2025
Nicholas Joseph Moran
Nick was born January 15, 1930, in Paterson, New Jersey, and was the eldest of 4 children born to Nicholas Joseph Moran Sr. and Elizabeth M. Moran. Nick’s younger siblings included Beatrice, Leo, and Jane.
Nick was raised a devout Catholic and met his future bride, Clair Marie Kessel, at St. Bonaventure Catholic School in the 4th grade, as a 9-year-old in 1939. They began dating in their 2nd year of high school. Nicholas worked at the soda fountain counter at a local pharmacy, and Clair used to come in and ask him to make her favorite, a banana split. Thus began Nick’s lifelong love affair with both his future bride…and ice cream! They graduated together from St. Bonaventure High School in 1947.
Nick and Clair married on January 20th, 1951, at St. Bonaventure Catholic Church. In contrast to their young, wedded bliss, the world was in a very troubled state during this Cold War era and with the outset of the Korean War. Nick received his draft notice while at the rehearsal dinner when about to be married at the tender age of 21. Just 18 months later, shortly after the birth of their first of eight children (Claire), Nick reported for duty in the U.S. Army at Fort Still, Oklahoma in August 1952 and was in active duty until November 1953 when he was honorably discharged.
Nick served valiantly as a 2nd Lieutenant in the USAR-ARTY (Artillery) in North Korea as a Forward Observer (FO). This assignment meant being on the front lines, close enough to see and observe enemy actions, for the purpose of giving artillery support as needed. Often, this involved taking direct incoming fire from the enemy. In combat situations, artillery observers have the lowest life expectancy of any troops, and in the Korean War the average life expectancy of a Forward Observer was unimaginably just 15 minutes, and even less during his experience at the furious Battle of Pork Chop Hill near the end of the war.
Sometimes out of tactical necessity, the FO called for artillery fire in the very sector where they themselves were engaged with the enemy. The power and responsibility that was placed onto a twenty-two- or twenty-three-year-old lieutenant’s hands was incomprehensible, and inspired Winston Churchill to have said about Forward Observers: “Uncommon valor was a common virtue”. And like Nick, they preferred not to talk or reminisce about their heroism or the gravity of their experience.
As if by divine providence and the hand of God, Nick survived a year as a Forward Observer, the most dangerous assignment on the front lines of one of the most brutal wars ever. Nick returned to married life with his childhood sweetheart and eventually would thrive as the patriarch of a remarkable family of 8 children that ultimately produced a family tree comprising 28 grandchildren (17 girls, 11 boys) and 60 great-grandchildren (36 girls, 24 boys).
Nick began working at the Prudential Insurance Company in 1948 shortly after graduating High School and until induction into the Army, returning to the Prudential after the war. He then attended night school on the G.I. Bill to earn his degree from Seton Hall University. Later, Nick worked for Northwest Administrators as a Sr. Claims Adjuster and Arbitrator for the Teamsters Union, retiring at age 65 in 1995. In total, Nick’s career took him from New Jersey to Washington to California and back to Washington.
Nick & Clair Moran
Nick was dedicated to his eight children: Claire, Nancy, Elizabeth, Peggy, Nick, Mike, Dan, and Marianne. He was a remarkable patriarch also affectionately called “Dad” by the spouses of his children; and “Grandpa” to the growing extended family.
Nicholas helped start up the Samena Squares in 1964 and utilized his silky baritone singing voice to become the club’s first square dance caller (partnering with wife Clair to teach round dancing), and it became a part-time paying gig to help pay the bills for his growing family. Nick’s passion for dance calling later inspired younger generations of the “Moran Clan” at large family holiday gatherings at the huge Maltby Hall that could accommodate the ever-growing four-generation family by leading such favorites as the “Bunny Hop”, “The Hokey Pokey”, and “Jingle Bell Rock” .
Nick tirelessly provided opportunities for family outings, with family camping trips to diverse locations like Kalaloch Beach, Lake Arrowhead, Lake Kachess, and Harrison Hot Springs. Nick enjoyed boats as well, taking the family out on his Reinell 24’ “Six Belles” (honoring his bride and 5 daughters). Excursions included transiting Lake Washington through the Ballard locks into Puget Sound for saltwater fishing expeditions. Later, Nick enjoyed taking Clair and any of his grown children out for tours on Lake Washington on a smaller 17’ runabout, and especially for a visit to Ivar’s for their famous Fish & Chips.
It is a blessing and a testament to how Nick was genuinely loved and appreciated that, in the final three years of his life after the passing of his soul mate Clair (after 70 years of marriage), Nick was constantly doted on by his 8 children who helped him to live independently in his home of 51 years in Kirkland, WA. Nick passed peacefully after all of his children were able to spend time with him in his final days.
Nick is survived by his sisters, Beatrice and Jane, and children (spouses) Claire, Nancy, Elizabeth (Steve), Peggy (Mark), Nick (Theresa), Mike (Susan), Dan (Renata), and Marianne (Dan); and those 28 grandchildren and 60 great-grandchildren. Rest in peace Nick, knowing you have completed your life’s work and left a remarkable and enduring legacy!
Rosary and Viewing:
11:00-11:45 AM Thursday April 10th, 2025
Holy Family Catholic Church
7045 120th NE
Kirkland, WA 98033
Funeral Mass
12:00 PM April 10th, 2025
Internment:
11:00 AM Friday, April 11th, 2025
Holyrood Cemetery
205 NE 205th St.
Shoreline, WA 98155
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.