Jim Moran, a co-founder of the Steamtown Marathon, died Monday. He was 76.
Moran, of Clarks Green, ran in the New York City and Boston marathons and other races, in addition to the 26.2-mile run from Forest City to Scranton, which he helped start in 1996.
His daughter, Kelly Moran, described her father as a kindhearted, generous and loving man who cared deeply about the marathon.
“He really took it seriously, and it was really important to him that they got it right every year,” she said.
Jim Moran (Courtesy of Kelly Moran)
Steamtown Marathon co-founder Jim Moran sets up a finish line area in Valor Credit Union Field at Memorial Stadium for the finish of the annual Scranton Half Marathon that will be run in 2015. Michael J. Mullen / Staff Photographer
Members of the Steamtown Marathon committee photographed in 1996. FILE
Steamtown Marathon volunteers Tina Ulozas, right, Jim Moran and Chrissy LaVelle, left, prepare race applications at Sillner’s Cafe in 2002. Byline: Johnson Bachman
Show Caption
1 of 4
Jim Moran (Courtesy of Kelly Moran)
The marathon has raised more than $2.5 million for St. Joseph’s Center.
The most recent race was in October, with 1,000 plus people running the course through more than a dozen communities.
“If Northeastern Pennsylvania’s running community had a Mount Rushmore, Jim Moran would be on it,” Jim Cummings, vice president and assistant race director of the marathon said via email. “Jim donated tens of thousands of hours of his time over the past 40 years organizing and timing races.
“He played a pivotal role in the founding and organizing of the Steamtown Marathon and was a core member of our race committee since 1996 having chaired our race expo every year. He also made sure every finisher received a medal and coordinated our army of volunteers at our finish line.”
Moran was born in Portland, Maine. He was a physical therapist who worked at Community Medical Center, now called Geisinger Community Medical Center, in Scranton, and Mountain View Care Center.
Moran’s funeral is Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Church of St. Gregory, 330 N. Abington Road, Clarks Green. Relatives and friends may visit the church from 9-10. Read his obituary at thetimes-tribune.com/obituaries.