In loving memory ~
Patrick Joseph Moran, 88, died suddenly in a tragic accident while walking near his home in Comox on July 2nd, 2023.
Pat was born in Revelstoke on February 3rd, 1935, to parents Cecil and Hilda Moran (Galicano). He was raised in Nelson, B.C., with his sister Tere and where his father worked on the CPR until his sudden passing when Pat was only 11 years old. Hilda and Pat both worked for the CPR. Pat as a young man was responsible for ensuring the proper weight loads for the trains in the yard.
In 1954, Pat joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. He went to flying school in Gimli, Manitoba where qualified on the Harvard and the T Bird by January 13th, 1956. He remained in Gimli where he was certified as a flight instructor and flew 1300 hours training RCAF and other foreign pilots. His first posting was at Sea Island (Vancouver) in February of 1959 with 121KU Squadron which was a composite unit where he flew DC3s, Albatross and the Canso.
Pat married Annette Elizabeth Newlands on September 23rd, 1961, and had 3 boys, Colin, Kevin, and Sean. PJ's career took he and Annette across the country and to the United States. Notable postings were Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring Texas from 1969 to 1971, where he taught USAF Pilots how to fly T37 and T38s (F5) for the Vietnam War. A post which would earn him the United States Air Force Medal of Merit. Upon returning to Canada, Pat was in 450 Squadron in Ottawa where he flew one of the first Chinook helicopters from the US to Canada.
Posted to Petawawa in 1977 and newly promoted to Major, Pat was the senior Air Force staff officer for the newly formed Special Service Force. One of few Air Force Officers with white paratrooper wings he spent many a night telling and showing his boys how to jump out of C130 Hercules, usually with two radios strapped to his body. Airborne!
Pat's first posting to Comox was in 1979 as a flight leader for the 442 Squadron on the Buffalo. Pat was Search Master for several significant and complex searches and flew many hours of search and rescue including the 1980 sinking of the Prinsendam Cruise Liner.
PJ's last regular force posting was from 1981 to 1983 in Edmonton as Commanding Officer of the Recruiting Centre.
Pat and Annette's love for Comox brought them back for their final move and Pat transferred to the Air Reserve where he eventually was the Commanding Officer of the Air Reserve Augmentation Flight until retiring for good in 1991.
Pat and Annette had a great life in Comox surrounded by lifelong friends. They loved to travel, often with those friends, and went on a number of cruises as well. Family memories included camping in Algonquin Park, going to Disney Land and playing Rummoli. Pat would often tell stories of his adventures as a young flying officer which always ended with great laughter.
He was a kind man with a great sense of humour, an avid reader with a broad knowledge of worldly topics, and deep love of his family.
Pat loved to walk the trails near his house and many other spots in Comox and maintained that activity right up until his death and always with his dear friend Di.
Pat is survived by his wife Annette; sister Tere (Chuck) of Vancouver; sons, Colin (Kathy) of Las Vegas, Kevin (Sherri) of Comox, and Sean (Kim) of Winnipeg; sister-in-law Marie (Robert) of Bowser; grandchildren Conal and Caitlin of Winnipeg, Josephine of Las Vegas, Meaghan of Comox, Anika and Morgan of Winnipeg; great-grandchild Onyx of Comox; nephew Ian (Marta) of Nebraska; nephew Mike (Shawna) of Calgary; grand niece and nephew Charlotte and Lucas of Calgary.
With Pat's wishes, there will be no funeral.
Condolences may be offered at www.telfordtoneffboyd.ca
