Robert (Bob) Moran
Robert (Bob) Moran, of Goleta California, in his 103rd year, passed away at his home on December 8, 2024 in the company of his loving niece Bobbi Reeves, long-time caregiver Shalimar and nurse, Marianne.
Bob was born to Edward and Clara (Mullen) Moran in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on October 3, 1922.
During World War 2 Bob served as a mechanic in the Royal Canadian Air Force stationed in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. After the war he was a linesman for Bell Telephone in Montreal. This job also took him to Canada’s North at the 55th Parallel where he worked on the ambitious construction program- the Distant Early Warning, or DEW Line.
An avid downhill ski enthusiast, Bob spent many winter weekends in the Laurentians, where he met and fell in love with Grenda Lyon. They married on February 28, 1953 and spent the next seventy years together until Grenda’s passing on October 30, 2023.
Despite their enjoyment of skiing, Bob and Grenda were not big fans of winter. California called to them so they packed up their belongings and headed west in 1964 to set up home in Goleta, working at Pacific Tel.
Bob was the last of a generation. He was predeceased by his siblings Cecilia (Leonard) Storey, Edna, Kaye (Stan) Lemieux, Gert (Lloyd) Lockhart, and brother Lenny (Hilda) and also his nieces Laurie Lockhart (George Vessios), Janet Lockhart and nephew John Lemieux.
Mourning his loss are his nieces and nephews Karen (John) Beasley, Paul ( Sandra) Lemieux, Bobbi (David) Reeves, Kim Lockhart, Ann (Dr. Collin) Powell, Sheila (Gary) Duggan, Larry (Joanne) Lemieux, Greg (Sherry Harrison) Lockhart, honorary niece, Heather (Brian) Ayer and honorary nephew and loyal friend, Gerard Green. Also missing him are many great and great-great grandnephews and nieces, and his dear friends Nadine Anderson, Rachel McKeone and Kathy Weir.
Bob will be remembered for his ability to enjoy life, his willingness to try new things. He and Grenda enjoyed traveling and seeking out new adventures, like cruising the Caribbean during a hurricane! They loved to party and entertain and share their good fortune and great climate with family and friends, bringing them to places like Solvang, Ojai, San Simeon and Disneyland. He could BBQ a mean tri-tip roast! When not entertaining he communicated with friends and family world-wide on his ham radio.
He was a true Renaissance man, lover of the arts, Italian marble and museums. He was an accomplished artist, a painter and a sculptor. He loved to sing and play guitar. He was a gardener of fruit trees; fig, avocado, peach and Meyer lemon. He loved the sunshine (even though it did not agree with his Irish complexion) and swimming in the Pacific ocean or at the spa.
Bob cherished his Catholic faith. In his final days, he received the Sacrament of the Sick from an old friend, Father Maurice O’Mahoney. Bob’s funeral will take place on Monday, January 13, 2025 at St Rapheal’s Church at 10:00 am followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please do a kindness that no one knows about.
Bob’s parting advice: Don’t smoke!