Obituary of Edward J. Moore

Edward J. Moore of Woodbury NJ passed away July 3 at home after a long life of 101-3/4 years.

He was born & raised in Brooklyn NY, attended Polytechnic Preparatory School there & graduated from Cornell University with a degree in chemistry. This took him to Pittsburgh where he worked at the Homestead Steel Works. It was at the Carnegie Mellon Library where Ed was scolded by the reference librarian for putting his hat on her reference counter. This librarian, Rosemary Mengisen, ultimately became the first Mrs. Moore. The birth of their first of 6 children in Pittsburgh was followed by a move for work to Cumberland MD. Soon after they moved to Utah where he worked on ballistics at Dugway Proving Ground. He eventually moved to Woodbury & worked at Socony Mobil Company in Paulsboro NJ for 38 years as an analytical chemist. Highlights included obtaining a patent with a colleague for a unique analytical process as well as successfully resolving a fuel emergency for the second Columbia Space Shuttle launch, then returned to his “obscure life in Woodbury.” In 1983 Rosemary died. Shortly thereafter he had a serendipitous meeting in an art class at the local community college with a widowed St. Patrick’s parishioner, Marie Donald. Soon they married & continued to live in Woodbury. He enjoyed life-long interests in golf & bridge. At the age of 63 he took up windsurfing, a sport none of his children had yet attempted. He gave it up after knee replacement surgery at age 92. He loved to read about real people & events but also enjoyed his first book of fiction at age 100. He loved music & dancing. So after knee surgery he started lessons in ballroom dancing which culminated several times in participation in Gloucester County’s Dancing with the Stars.

He is survived by his wife, Marie, & her children Kathleen & Tim; his children Ed, Annellen, Eileen, Maggie, Rachel & their spouses, children, grandchildren & great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his daughter Molly.

Visitation will be July 9 at McGuinness Funeral Home, 34 Hunter St, Woodbury NJ, 6-8:30pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated July 10 at St. Patrick Church, 86 Cooper St. Woodbury NJ, 10:30am. Private inurnment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to a charity of choice dedicated to the unborn.