2008 Woodie Awards
Moore, S.J. retires, reflects on 30 year tenure
Cortney Britton '09
Issue date: 5/10/08 Section: Features
James W. Moore, S.J reclines in one of the four green and yellow leather chairs sitting in a circle near the front of his office in 113 Barbelin. He was supposed to leave at 11:30 a.m. for his lunch break, but he is staying a bit later in order to meet with the three remaining students waiting outside his office.
He looks around the room and clears his throat.
"I've enjoyed it all very much," said Moore speaking about his time here at the university. He is retiring this year, effective on June 30, after 45 years of working for Saint Joe's.
Moore has been the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for the past thirty years. Before that, he spent fifteen years working as the Director of Undergraduate Admissions.
"I've enjoyed working with students, but I'm tired," said Moore. "I'll be 81 in June and I think it's time for new blood."
Moore has seen the university undergo many changes, and was often an important force in making change himself.
"It's been wonderful," said Moore. "I've been a part of the growth of St. Joe's. When I came here it was a small, commuter, college for young men. I've watched and been a part of St. Joe's becoming what it is today, a university that is co-ed and residential."
He leans back and gets lost for a moment in a memory. As a much younger man, when he first came to St. Joe's in 1963, he used to walk around the grounds every evening after dinner. In those days, the grounds at St. Joe's were less than half of what they are today, ending near where Campion Student Center stands today with the walls that surrounded Margaret Gest's estate. Moore would walk by and think "oh my, St Joe's has to get this property someday."
However, that day seemed a long way off. Gest was in good health and loved her property. He remembered her beautiful gardens and often saw her outside pruning them. One day she was standing on a latter, pruning her lilacs, when she suffered a massive heart attack and fell. Within six months, St. Joe's had the property. Her old house became Wolfington Hall, Campion and Drexel Library were both expanded, and the Science Center was built.
He looks around the room and clears his throat.
"I've enjoyed it all very much," said Moore speaking about his time here at the university. He is retiring this year, effective on June 30, after 45 years of working for Saint Joe's.
Moore has been the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for the past thirty years. Before that, he spent fifteen years working as the Director of Undergraduate Admissions.
"I've enjoyed working with students, but I'm tired," said Moore. "I'll be 81 in June and I think it's time for new blood."
Moore has seen the university undergo many changes, and was often an important force in making change himself.
"It's been wonderful," said Moore. "I've been a part of the growth of St. Joe's. When I came here it was a small, commuter, college for young men. I've watched and been a part of St. Joe's becoming what it is today, a university that is co-ed and residential."
He leans back and gets lost for a moment in a memory. As a much younger man, when he first came to St. Joe's in 1963, he used to walk around the grounds every evening after dinner. In those days, the grounds at St. Joe's were less than half of what they are today, ending near where Campion Student Center stands today with the walls that surrounded Margaret Gest's estate. Moore would walk by and think "oh my, St Joe's has to get this property someday."
However, that day seemed a long way off. Gest was in good health and loved her property. He remembered her beautiful gardens and often saw her outside pruning them. One day she was standing on a latter, pruning her lilacs, when she suffered a massive heart attack and fell. Within six months, St. Joe's had the property. Her old house became Wolfington Hall, Campion and Drexel Library were both expanded, and the Science Center was built.
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