William C. Moran, Chicago-based real estate developer, broker and property manager died recently in Panama after a heroic battle with cancer. Bill is survived by Martha his wife of 39 years, daughters Meredith and Patricia, both of Chicago, and a brother, James Moran of
Glendale, Arizona. Bill was born in New Jersey and was a graduate of Loyola University, Chicago.

A true entrepreneur, Bill had a long, successful business career in industrial sales, executive search, and real estate brokerage, development and property management. Since the mid-1970s,
Moran Associates and its affiliated companies built and developed commercial and residential developments in Chicago, Arizona and Tennessee. He also was involved in property in the Bahamas and Panama.

Bill’s most notable development is the Skybridge commercial/residential high rise that occupies the entire block on Halsted Street between Madison and Washington streets in Chicago’s
West Loop neighborhood. As a forward thinking developer, he was in the vanguard of the revitalization of Chicago’s Lincoln Park, North Loop and Rogers Park neighborhoods. Bill’s vision for the city he loved and his leadership in the positive development of it will benefit
generations of future Chicagoans.

Bill loved sports and followed and encouraged his daughters and their friends in their sports activities. A long-time avid fan and major supporter of Loyola men’s basketball, Bill along with his wife Martha, also was a supporter of DePaul women’s basketball as well as many inner city sports programs. He was always willing to give his opinion and advice to the coaches, whether they wanted it or not!

Bill also was an adventurous soul. He ran with the bulls in Pamplona with his daughter Meredith, toured Ireland during the Troubles and ran the white water rapids in the rivers of the rain forests in Ecuador with his daughter Patricia. Golfing was one of his favorite activities and he played courses at home and wherever his business and pleasure took him – from Chicago’s Park District courses to the Royal Portrush in N. Ireland, St. Andrews in Scotland and Myrtle Beach—where his win in a mini-tournament of friends and the tee-shirt advertising “Myrtle Beach Champion” also won him easy admittance to exclusive golf courses in Ireland.

Bill was an eternal student of history and politics and enjoyed studying and debating history and current political events. He was known for many spirited “dinner table” discussions that always ended amicably.

Bill is fondly remembered by his friends for his generosity, compassion for others and quick wit.
He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and business associates.

 

Gifts in Memory of William C. Moran:

Recognizing Bill’s long standing interest in disadvantaged youth and his passion for sports,  gifts may be made in his memory to the  Kelly Hall YMCA.  Kelley Hall is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Chicago,  the Chicago Food Depository and the YMCA.  Located in West Humboldt Park it is in one of the City’s poorest neighborhoods and provides youth development programs, hot meals for children and seniors, nutrition and fitness education and has an active sports program for the neighborhood’s youth.  As one of the neighborhood’s only community centers, it is a safe place for both children and their families to gather.

Please send gifts in Bill’s memory to: 

YMCA Contributions

P.O. Box 5657

Chicago, Il.  60680-9814 

 

Please make all checks payable to the YMCA of Metro Chicago and note Kelly Hall YMCA in Memory of Bill Moran.

Gifts can also be made on line AFTER March 26, 2012  at www.ymcachicago.org.  Please note Kelly Hall YMCA in Memory of Bill Moran on the on line form.

The YMCA of Metro Chicago is a registered 501(c)(3) organization.  A written acknowledgement of your gift will be sent to you.