Joseph Michael Moran

He was born on February 27, 1962, in Elizabeth, NJ to Hubert Gerard and Aileen M. (nee Sullivan) Moran.

He was a man of small stature, yet gargantuan character and heart. He always believed in doing the right thing, and loved to serve others, which is evident by his life’s work.

Joseph started his calling in emergency services as an EMT member of the Callmen's Emergency Unit of Union. Throughout his life, he worked for Grand Building Supply of Elizabeth, NJ as a driver and proud union leader for their Teamster local, a Firefighter for 26 years with the Hillside Fire Department where he achieved the rank of Captain, as well as a Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic (MICP) with Union Hospital, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, MONOC, and Trinitas Hospital. He retired from emergency medicine as a Paramedic Supervisor. He was a skilled carpenter and owner/operator of Bugsy Moran & Son’s Custom Carpentry and also worked at Conant St Auto in Hillside, NJ. Joe was extremely proud to have responded to NYC with a contingent of Hillside Firefighters on 9/11 during the rescue and recovery efforts, where he spent days working. He also volunteered and responded to Louisiana for the rescue and recovery efforts from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He was a steadfast and skilled responder, a calm in chaos, and a glimmer of hope in a moment of despair. He was revered as a leader regardless of rank, and that has been proven by those he has mentored and served throughout his life’s work in emergency services.

He cherished every moment spent with family and friends, always ready with a quick joke, and known as the life of the party. He loved being “out & about,” whether finding serenity at Lake George while camping with his wife, children, and grandchildren, or boating along the Jersey Shore with his family aboard “Bugsy’s Gang.” Beyond the water, he found joy riding his Harley, a passion second only to his dedication to emergency services. He was also a proud member of the Streets of Fire Motorcycle Club in Newark.

Joseph was predeceased by his loving parents, Hubert G. Moran and Aileen M. Moran. He is survived by his loving wife of seven years, Tara J. Moran; his children, Kevin Moran and his wife Tara, and Melissa Moran and her husband Doug Ferrigno; his grandchildren, Madelyn & Teagan Moran and Sullivan Ferrigno; his siblings, Kathy Gilrain and her husband Ken, Sue Duffy and her husband Chris, Patty Russell and her husband Ed, Clare Skae and her husband Rob, Margaret Moran-Allatta, Jim Moran and his wife Tracy, John Moran and his wife Amy, Kathi Weigly, and Olga McGruder; his father-in-law Roger Peterson and mother-in-law Carol Peterson; as well as many loving nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit the McCracken Funeral Home in Union on Wednesday July 2, 2025, from 3:00 - 8:00 pm for visitation. A Funeral Mass will be offered on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at 10:00 am at Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church in Union.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in Joe’s name at WWW.T2T.ORG.

Please feel free to leave fond memories, expressions of sympathy or condolence messages for the Moran family at www.McCrackenFuneralHome.com.