Obituary of Richard R. Moore

Richard Roland Moore, called Richie or Rich by all who knew him, was the third son of five sons and third child of eight children born to the late Richard Douglas Moore and Laura Isabel Bunting Moore. He was born at home in Quinton, New Jersey on April 5, 1940 and he went to his heavenly home on October 9, 2021 after a courageous battle with Covid related pneumonia. He was 81 years old. Richie’s elementary education was at Harmony School, a segregated one classroom school for grades K to 8 in Quinton, New Jersey. He graduated from Salem High School, Salem, New Jersey in June 1958 and Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland in December, 1963 with a BS in mathematics. In June 1973, Richie earned a MA in Student Personnel Services from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), Glassboro, New Jersey and in the summer of 1975, he received a GE fellowship from Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts where he pursued courses for his certification in public school administration. He also was certified as a public-school teacher of mathematics and public-school counselor. Many educators in their present administrative positions through south Jersey served their required internship under his supervision. Rich’s entire career of thirty-six years was devoted to enabling under- represented youth and adults to achieve their ultimate best. His efforts were recognized by the Women’s Club of Salem, NJ as he received their “Man of the Year” award in 1973 for outstanding contributions in education for disadvantaged youths. He taught math to adults pursuing their GED through MDTA (Manpower Development Training Center), Camden, NJ, was a social worker with Division of Youth and Family Services and tri-county director of SCOPE, Inc. (Southwest Conference on Poverty Elimination). He served as associate director of the EOF (Economic Opportunity Fund) Martin Luther King Scholars Program at Glassboro State College, Glassboro, New Jersey. He was principal and assistant principal at Edgewood Regional Jr High School (now Winslow Township Middle School), Atco, NJ from 1975 to his retirement in1999. Rich served his communities through coaching football and softball. He was the president of the Vineland, New Jersey chapter of the NAACP, elected to the Voorhees, New Jersey Board of Education for almost 20 years where he was chosen vice-president for two terms. He was a member of the Berlin, New Jersey chapter of the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History, Human Resources Committee at Glassboro State College, Glassboro, New Jersey, National Association of Secondary School Principals, Phi Delta Kappa and American Personnel & Guidance Association. He was treasurer of the inaugural South Jersey Alumni chapter of Morgan State University. Richie loved the Lord and accepted Christ when he was in his teens. He became a member of Haven United Methodist Church, Quinton, New Jersey where he was president of United Methodist Men, taught men’s and adult bible studies, served as certified local lay speaker, Delaware Bay District lay speaker and along with 2 other men developed and directed a youth program at Haven United Methodist Church where almost 50 youth twice a week received academic support, mentorship, tutoring, Christian education and were served a nutritious evening meal. Rich loved board & cards games especially dominoes and pinochle. He would travel for miles to play pinochle and would play it heads up, cut throat, partners, single or double deck. He even played pinochle with 6 people and four decks. He would often say that he put the “P” in pinochle. Rich met his wife, Ginny (Virginia Wong), in May 1970 while he was an administrator and Ginny was a graduate student at Glassboro State College, Glassboro, New Jersey. They married in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 30, 1973. From this union came two daughters, Renee’ Helene and Jennifer Laura. Rich joins his parents, Richard and Isabel Moore, his brothers, Richard Brown, Donald (Buckey) Moore, Joseph Moore, George Moore and Gary Moore, sister Doris Moore and Godson Joseph L. Moore, Jr. and special cousin like brother Ronald Bunting in Heaven. He leaves precious memories with his wife of almost 48 years Ginny, daughters Renee and fiancé Anthony, Jennifer and fiancée Tyler, grandchildren Jaylen, Trinity and Terry and Godson Blair A. Sills. Also, his sisters, Deborah Moore Oglesby and husband Jerry Oglesby, Sr and Vada Moore. Sisters-in-law Norma Moore and Lydia Moore and brothers-in-law Byard (Tracy) Harris, Sr., Albert Wong and his wife Jenny and Nelson Wong will cherish their memories of Rich. His many nieces, nephews, great-nephews, great-nieces, great-great nieces and great-great nephews will also miss him. There will be two viewings during which masks must be worn and social distancing practiced. A celebration of Rich’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation for United Negro College Fund to the family, or online or to UNCF Response Programs 1805 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001 or to Haven United Methodist Church Youth Ministries at PO Box 101, Quinton, NJ 08072.