We at the Collegeville Fire Company had the honor to know and work along side Former Fire Chief John T. Moran Sr., a life long member and with the Perkiomen Fire Company. On Saturday, September 2nd we assisted in paying a tribute to the Moran family and company while honoring a great man.
Former Fire Chief John T. Moran Sr. died Tuesday at age 71. Moran served the fire company for 53 years, including 20 years as its chief. He was still an active member of the volunteer fire company, serving as an assistant engineer at the time of his death. Moran called 911 from Pennypacker Mills historic site at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday to report that he wasn’t feeling well and collapsed a short time later. He was transported to Einstein Medical Center Montgomery, but first responders and medical staff at Einstein were unable to revive him.
Moran had answered two calls with the Perkiomen Township Fire Company in the previous 24 hours.“Volunteers come and go but John Moran Sr. dedicated his life to this fire company and the community,” said Perkiomen Township Fire Company President Brad Bonner, who has worked alongside Moran for the past 25 years. “He’s the heart of this fire company.”
Bonner said Moran set an example for younger firefighters to follow. “He was the first one in the truck when a call came in,” Bonner said. “He had tremendous experience and shared it with everyone. If you needed something, he’d drop whatever he was doing and help you.” Bonner said his introduction to Moran came when Moran responded to a fire at Bonner’s house 25 years ago.“People don’t realize how much volunteer firefighters sacrifice,” Bonner said. “They respond to calls at all hours. They get home to cold dinners. But John was so dedicated to his community and he did it for 53 years.” Moran’s two sons and his daughter followed in their dads footsteps and became first responders themselves, according to Bonner. The fire company posted a notice on its website announcing “with deep regret” the “Line of Duty Death of John Moran Sr.” In addition to his leadership roles with the Perkiomen Township Fire Company, Moran also served Perkiomen Township as its fire marshal for the last 15 years.
He was the former fire chief from 1982 to 2001, and served most recently as assistant engineer. He also served as a fire company trustee and was president of the Perkiomen Township Fire Company Relief Association. Moran worked for Perkiomen Township, beginning in 1981 as the roads supervisor, and had been the township fire marshal since 2001. He also served as the township’s assistant emergency management coordinator. Moran was a Vietnam War veteran who served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967. A resident of Perkiomen Township, Moran is survived by his wife of 49 years, Geraldine; his sons, John Jr. and wife Amanda; Kevin and wife Brandi; daughter Colleen and husband Kevin; and four grandchildren, Jacob, Alex, Dylan and Brody.