9/20/1966 – 4/17/2024
Lawrence
Jeffrey (Jeff) Moran–history professor, Cajun chef, World’s Greatest Dad, and human encyclopedia–passed away on Wednesday, April 17 at the age of 57, after a 23-year battle with brain cancer. He was surrounded by family who loved him fiercely.
Jeff was born on September 20, 1966 in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of Duane Moran and Violet (Suta) Moran. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1988, where he met Susan Kang in his favorite college course “Plants and Man.” They married on July 6, 1991, in Madison. They then headed east to Cambridge, MA where Jeff received a PhD in history from Harvard University and welcomed two daughters along the way. After a visiting professorship at Brown University, Jeff began his teaching career at the University of Kansas in 1998 where, in addition to publishing three books and twice serving as Department Chair, he was well-loved by his students for his quick wit and meticulous writing instruction (a skill from which his daughters would also eventually benefit).
In 2001, at the age of 35, he was diagnosed with brain cancer. In classic Jeff fashion, he faced this new challenge with quiet determination and a healthy dose of levity. Even through many bouts of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, he would be the one cheering up and comforting his family. Jeff had an uncanny ability to find joy in every morsel of life. His love and spirit will remain a source of everlasting comfort and light to all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his father, Duane Moran. He is survived by his wife, Susan, his daughters, Hannah and Becca, his mother Violet, and his brothers Morgan (Garmit) and Buzz (Cheryl) and nieces and nephews.
Memorial services for Jeff will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the KU Cancer Center, via KU Endowment, or Kansas Palliative and Hospice Care.
KU: 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Mail Stop 3012, Kansas City, KS 66160. Online contributions may be made at www.kuendowment.org/give. Please indicate that donations are for the Jeff Moran memorial.
Hospice: 6829 Silverheel St. Shawnee, KS 66226. Please indicate that donations are in honor of Jeff Moran.
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