Ann Moran, a dedicated member of the Key Biscayne community and an intensive care nurse, passed away on Tuesday after a long battle with dementia. She was 74 years old.
Her husband, Rev. David Moran, reflected on her profound impact and described himself as a champion of her remarkable talents. He recalled their first conversation, stating, “I knew from our first conversation that I’d marry that woman. Eleven months later we did. We were married for 49 years.”
Born Ann Lorraine Zwemer in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she pursued a nursing degree at the University of Michigan. Ann later continued her education at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago, engaging in ministry on college campuses at both the University of Florida and the University of Illinois.
The couple eventually moved to Houston, where they served in the neediest barrios, continuing their ministry work. While Ann worked at St. Luke’s Methodist Hospital, she actively reached out to the community, using her fluency in Spanish to advocate for underprivileged children. She established reading reward programs aimed at lifting youth out of poverty.
Ann’s commitment went beyond her hospital duties; she often served as an on-call medic in neighborhoods beset by poverty and violence. Notably, Rev. Moran shared a harrowing experience where Ann helped save a man’s life after he was shot in the neck during a bar fight, using her skills to fashion a tourniquet on the spot.
After over a decade in Texas, the Morans relocated to Key Biscayne when David was selected to lead the Hispanic-majority Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church, now known as Crossbridge. They remained on the island until 2017, during which time Ann continued her work in the intensive care unit at Mercy Hospital.
In Key Biscayne, she also became a mentor to local youth, instilling a sense of service and community duty. Ann hosted after-school activities that focused on helping the elderly and the less fortunate.
Her advocacy extended to Habitat for Humanity, where she held a position on the board and led volunteer brigades in homebuilding efforts. Additionally, she worked to connect the resources of Key Biscayne with the inner city of Miami, collaborating with the educational nonprofit Touching Miami with Love to provide fun and engaging activities for the children of underserved communities.
Thom Mozloom, a former elder of the church and a close friend of Ann’s, shared, “Ann Moran was a force to be reckoned with. She gave birth to five kids but mothered more than one could count. She was a teacher, a disciple-maker, a theologian, and a role model who never met a child she didn’t adore or leave an impression on. Her imprint on young lives will be felt for generations.”
Following their time in Key Biscayne, Ann and David continued to minister to Hispanic and underserved communities in Broward County. Ann is survived by her husband, her five children, 12 grandchildren, and numerous brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews.
A memorial service celebrating her life will take place on July 12 at 1:30 PM at Rio Vista Church in Fort Lauderdale.
image source from：kbindependent
