Remembering Joan Moore

Deputy cultural affairs director was community activist, artist
Ricardo Kaulessar
Reporter staff writer



Longtime Jersey City resident Joan Moore was not one person, but many different people to those who knew her.

To Jeni Branum, who once lived near Moore in the Hamilton Park area, she was a neighborhood fixture who founded the Hamilton Park festival, held each June.

"Very friendly, getting along with people, and always had her little dog," Branum said.

And she always lived in the Hamilton Park area, whether she was living in her own house or renting. Hamilton Park was always in her heart."

To Maryanne Kelleher-Arango, her colleague in the city's Cultural Affairs division where Moore had worked for 10 years, she was a friend and a professional who brought an artist's sensibility and public servant's commitment to her work.

"Joan was the first person to handle a walk-in who came into our office to ask us questions, and she was great with the public," Kelleher said. "She never forgot that she worked for the taxpayers of the city."

Kelleher continued, "Her death was a devastating blow to all of us who worked with her."
Service to come

Moore, 65, died on April 25 in Christ Hospital in Jersey City after battling an illness for some time. She lived in the Bronx for 10 years before moving to Jersey City in 1978.

She was director of graphic design for Mobil Oil for 15 years before working as deputy director of cultural affairs in Jersey City.

Surviving her are her partner, Audrey Snitkin; a son, Gary Snitkin; and a daughter, Sheryl Snitkin.

A memorial service will be held for Moore on Friday, May 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Plaza Funeral Home, 445 Monmouth St. in Jersey City.

In lieu of flowers, the public can make donations to the: Joan Moore Art for Kids Memorial Program c/o JC Division of Cultural Affairs, City Hall, 280 Grove Street, JC, NJ 07302.
Artist and public servant
Moore was the deputy director of cultural affairs, having worked for the city for more than a decade organizing festivals, art openings, and other events.

Moore was first hired by the Division of Cultural Affairs in 1998 to create the souvenir journal for the opening of Biblioteca Criolla, Jersey City's first Hispanic Library.

Before working for the city, Moore was a graphic designer and advertising manager for companies including Mobile Oil Corporation, T.J. Holt & Company, Wayne Grayson Advertising, Welton Becket & Associates, Admaster Prints, and Western Electric.

She studied at the High School of Art & Design in New York City and the New York Technical Institute, and the Parsons School of Design, School of Visual Arts.

Moore's advertising experience and arts education served her well in her position at the Jersey City Division of Cultural Affairs.

She was a ubiquitous presence. If she wasn't helping to organize the city's Annual Artists' Studio Tour promoting various artists and their work, she was presiding over the Martin Luther King Oratory Contest, where grade school children would recite the speeches of the late civil rights leader.

"She believed so much in the mission of what we were doing in this office, which was to spread arts and culture across the city" Kelleher said. "Joan must have met with more ethnic and social groups than I ever knew."

But Kelleher said knowing Moore, she thinks Moore would like to be remembered as "first and foremost an artist."

Before her death, Moore had planned to implement a program of arts classes on Saturdays for children.

Kelleher said Cultural Affairs is planning to move forward on Moore's Saturday art class idea.
Comments on this story can be sent to rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com

Dear Friends & Co-Workers,

The family of Joan Moore has asked that we pass on the following information to all who wish to attend her memorial service:

A memorial service will be held for Joan Moore on Friday, May 9th from 10am to 12pm at:

The Plaza Funeral Home
445 Monmouth St
Jersey City
New Jersey 07302
Phone: (201) 333-7171

'In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the: 'Joan Moore Art for Kids Memorial Program'. Mail your donation to the JC Division of Cultural Affairs, City Hall, 280 Grove Street, JC, NJ 07302.'

The wish of Joan's family is to honor her memory by establishing a memorial fund for something near and dear to Joan's heart. So, together, we are in the process of establishing this memorial fund in Joan's name.

We are so pleased about this, as we know it will allow Joan's work to live on in her absence. What a tribute!

Thank you so much!

Regards to all,

Maryanne & The JC Division of Cultural Affairs Staff

_____________________________________________________________
Maryanne Kelleher-Arango
Director
City Hall
280 Grove Street
JC, NJ 07302
PH: 201-547-6921
FAX: 201-547-4331

Joan was very instrumental in helping us launch the 'Films in Van Vorst' series together with Maryanne, Gene Flannelly.

Sadly missed. May she rest in peace.

Johnny

This is a significant loss to the neighborhood. Joan was one of the very early members of the Hamilton Park Neighborhood Assoc. and truly committed to the community. When Jack Swallow (sp?) was found murdered, she and her partner along with other neighbors, were active in his search which resulted in his body being found. She and her planted the big Christmas tree in his honor that you see on the corner of 8th and W. Hamilton. For years they would string lights on it around Christmas time.

The HPNA has recently archived a host of news articles and other materials in the Pavonia branch of the JC public library, for all to peruse through. There you will find news clippings and pictures of Joan and co, from the early days as the worked to improve the quality of life in the HP neighborhood.

Very sad to hear of Joan's death. With all the events I produced, Joan was very helpful in co-ordinating as a liason various requirements and problems. I last spent time with Joan at LITM where we had a great meal at the JC Artists Studio Tour.

She will indeed be missed by those like me as acquaintances and I'm sure all her friends and family.

This is so sad, she was an amazing lady, and as Bobble mentioned a great neighbor. Her signature purple door and that silly dog, with that funny cross bite who ruled Cole Street for years! Please keep her and Audrey in your prayers and everyone else who knew her. Her legacy will always live on in so many ways.

G_d bless you Joan and thank you for everything you've done for me, your community, friends, and for the City of Jersey City...we are all going to miss you.

Joan was one of the first to say hello to me when I moved into the neighborhood a dozen years ago. She was a wonderful friend and neighbor, and JC certainly benefited from her presence. She's gonna be missed.

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

This morning, following the bereavement notice about our friend and colleague, Joan Moore, the phones have been non-stop with well wishers from around the City who want to offer their condolences to us. We cannot tell you how much the thoughts and prayers of all of our co-workers mean to us at this time.

Joan Moore has been a part of the Cultural Affairs family for over ten years. She will be sorely missed and we all have heavy hearts today.

For all those who have inquired about the arrangements for Joan, please be advised that her family has contacted us this morning to inform us that she will be cremated this weekend.
A service will be planned by the family in a few weeks. We will keep you posted on those developments.

In the meantime, please indulge us as we take a few moments to remember our friend.

Before serving the City of Jersey City, Joan enjoyed a tremendous career as a graphic designer and advertising manager for companies including Mobile Oil Corporation, T.J. Holt & Company, Wayne Grayson Advertising, Welton Becket & Associates, Admaster Prints and Western Electric.

She studied at the High School of Art & Design in NY and the New York Technical Institute, the Parsons School of Design, School of Visual Arts.
Joan's advertising experience and education served her well in her position here at the Jersey City Division of Cultural Affairs

She was hired by Cultural Affairs in 1998 to create the souvenir journal for the opening of Biblioteca Criolla, Jersey City's first Hispanic Library.
Since that time, Joan Moore has served the City of Jersey City as an event planner, art curator, designer, and most recently the Deputy Director of the Division of Cultural Affairs.
Over these ten years, Joan has touched the lives of so many, not only fellow City employees, but countless constituents from the art and cultural community of Jersey City.
In all her years of service, Joan always kept foremost in her mind the fact that our primary function was to work for and extend the utmost respect to the constituents of this great City.

She was an exemplary crusader for the people, a proponent of human rights for all, a lover of the arts and culture and a friend to all who crossed her path.
Today, Jersey City has lost one of it's champions and we mourn that, but at the Division of Cultural Affairs we intend to celebrate her life.

She spent a decade celebrating the lives and events of others & we feel that is what she would want most of all.

Thank you for remembering Joan.

From her extended Jersey City Division of Cultural Affairs Family,

We love you Joan!

Maryanne Kelleher-Arango
Greg Brickey
Cliff Perkins
Connie Bolger
Cathy Deadwyler
Cathy Nichols
Manny Murria
Gene Flannelly
Alex Perez
Lance Jackson
Jamie Vasquez
Charlie Sampson
David 'Scooby' Sanchez
Indigo McCoy
Jenny Lu
& all the young seasonal who work for Cultural Affairs