James "Babe" Shields Moran Jr.

James S. (Babe) Moran, of Northford CT, formerly of Norwich, loving husband of Mary (Betty Yerrington) Moran, joined his heavenly father on February 20, 2018. He was born and raised in his beloved town of Norwich on September 18, 1922, the son of James Shields and Nora (Foley) Moran. He was a graduate of St. Patrick's School and the Norwich Free Academy and attended the University of Connecticut. He played on the NFA basketball team, was captain of the baseball team in 1940 and 1941, and record holder for the track team with his javelin record going unbroken for over 20 years. He also earned four "N's" while at NFA, in baseball, basketball, track and field, and cross country. He then played baseball in the Norwich Leagues for over 25 years. In 1986, he was inducted into the Norwich Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2002 into the NFA Sports Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus for many years. He was a Pharmacist's Mate in the United States Coast Guard from 1942-1945, was then employed as a sales manager for S&H Green Stamps in Norwich, and subsequently moved to Northford and retired after 30 years as a Yellow Pages Directory Manager with the former SNET in New Haven.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of sixty-nine years, the former Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Yerrington, his high school sweetheart. He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Beth and Robert Applegate of Wallingford, Karen and Peter Avery of Windsor, and Patricia Moran and Anthony Marino of Westbrook; three sons and daughters-in-law, James and Kathleen Moran of Katy, Texas, Joseph and Rebecca Moran of Farmington, and Christopher and Kim Moran of Northford; and eleven grandchildren, Daniel (Sara) Avery, Brian (Kate) Avery, David Applegate, Catherine and Christopher Marino, Thomas, and Bridget Moran and Jennifer (Moran) and Stephen DeSimone, Kevin Moran, and Robert and Catherine Moran, and six great-grandchildren, Charles, Penny, Beatrice, and Ruby Avery and Olive and Tristan DeSimone. Babe took great pride in the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren, who surrounded him with their love and affection. He was predeceased by an infant sister Theresa.

He will be remembered with love by all those whose lives he touched, and greatly missed by his special friends, Jeff, Mark, Shawn, John, and Tom and his friends of over thirty years at the Foxwoods Poker Room.

His family will receive relatives and friends during calling hours on Feb. 25th from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Labenski Funeral Home, 107 Boswell Ave., Norwich, CT The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Norwich, CT. on Monday February 26 at 10:00 am. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Norwich. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice or to Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, CT.