The Life of Dr. John Robert Moore
John Robert Moore, professor emeritus in History at University of Louisiana, Lafayette, died August 7, 2012 surrounded by his loving family. John Robert was born September 21, 1936 in Alva, Florida to James William Moore and Margaret Eleanor Marchman Moore, their only child. He grew up in Bartow Florida and attended Stetson University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1958. He married Josephine Kelly on July 26, 1959 and together they had four children, Katherine, Eleanor Kelly, Mary Christine and Bruce Robert. He married his second wife, Wanda Li in 1979 and had his fifth child Lee Angela.
John Robert was first and foremost a scholar and student of life. From 1959 to 1961 he was a Duke University Graduate Scholar, earning a M.A in 1960 and a PhD in American History in 1962. Dr. Moore received a faculty position at the University of SW Louisiana and began teaching there in 1962. Dr. Moore served as chairman of the History department in 1970-78 and again in 1992-98. Dr. Moore authored two books and many scholarly articles throughout his career. He received numerous awards and honors during his distinguished career, the most notable among them were his three Fulbright grants. These grants provided him with the opportunity to teach and travel throughout Asia. He spent 1971-73 in Taiwan, teaching at the top universities in that country and in 1976-78 he taught at several universities in Bangkok Thailand. Dr Moore received an unprecedented third Fulbright grant for three years teaching in Shanghai China in 1982-85, just as that country was opening up to the rest of the world. Throughout his career, Dr. Moore was a teacher in the truest sense of the word, developing international education programs and providing mentorship to students and colleagues around the world. John Robert was a loving father and husband and a generous man with a wide circle of friends. His love of learning and travel provided him with an insight about the world around him that he shared with all who knew him.
He is survived by his daughters, Kate Leith (Tom), Kelly Foster (Kirk), Christy Izmirian (Doug) and Lee Moore (Michael); his son, Bruce Moore (Jayne); nine grandchildren, Stephen, Shannon, Caitlin Neff (Eric), Justin Foster, Megan and Ian Leith, Devon, and Matthew and Caleb Izmirian as well as his half brother, William Terrell Moore.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held in the Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, at 2:00 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012, with visitation beginning at 9:30 am.
Pallbearers will be Ian Leith, Megan Leith, Bruce Moore, Michael Toedman, Dr Ming Tsai and Dr JiChai Lin.
Special thanks to the staff of Lourdes Hospital for their compassion and care. The family is grateful for the outpouring of love from their friends around the world, especially the unwavering support of Dr Ming Tsai and his wife Jenny Tsai.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA, is in charge of funeral arrangements.
