Date of death: 02/23/2020
Saint Meinrad Class: T 2003
Rev. Michael Vincent Moro, M.D. joined his Lord and Savior in the early hours of Sunday February 23, 2020.
Michael was born July 29, 1943 in Columbus, GA to the late Tobia and Dominick Moro. He grew up in Mineola, NY.
He graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY. He attended Mt. St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, MD where he was a member of the track team. He studied medicine at the Universit di Padova in Padua, Italy. He did a residency in Ob/Gyn, then was awarded a fellowship in gynecological oncology through Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York. Ultimately, he changed course and spent his career as a family practitioner.
An accomplished physician for over forty-five years, Michael was also a professor at Eastern Virginia Medical School and continued to serve with the school as a professor in the community for the duration of his career. While at EVMS, he received multiple awards including the Sir William Osler and Van Wolkenten Awards. Teaching and sharing his love of medicine was a vital part of his life, and his passion for healing showed in his work every day. He remained in contact with many of his students after their graduations. He felt blessed to bring his gift of ministry and his passion of medicine together, by being able to perform the marriage ceremonies of many medical students and residents.
The accomplishment Michael was most proud of, was the day he became an ordained Deacon in the Catholic Church. On March 23, 2003, he was a member of the first class for the Diocese of Richmond. Michael’s ministry and devotion to the Catholic church allowed him to serve many people throughout his life and career. He began his ministry as a Deacon at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Chesapeake, VA for many years, then at Saint Nicholas in Virginia Beach, before he came to serve at Church of the Ascension in Virginia Beach, where he has been for more than 10 years.
He previously served on many boards, including Catholic Family Charities. He coached numerous youth sports and was instrumental in the formation of Tidewater Youth Lacrosse. Michael was very active in sports and the community throughout his life. While in medical school in Italy, he played professional rugby for Petrarca Rugby.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 44 years, Fran; children, Loreen Clayton, Lisa Poole and husband Danny, Michael Moro and wife Claudia Muratori, Amy Moro, Geoffrey Moro and fiance Molly Fanney; grandchildren, Brittany Clayton and fianc Danny Fair, Nicholas Clayton, and Paul Moro; great-grandchild Cooper Fair; sisters, Anne “Cookie” Burnett, Eileen and husband Dr. Aswini Lenora; brother, Robert “Bob” Moro and wife Toni; nephews, Bobby Moro and wife Sarah, Joey Moro and wife Caitlin, Bob Burnett and wife Jen, Kevin Burnett, Randy Burnett and wife Wendy, Robert Lenora and wife Deb, Lee Ann Hardison and husband Michael, and Blake Barfield. He was also proud to have welcomed Emma and Sarah Poole, and Maddy Fair to the family whom he proudly called his grandchildren.