Moroney, John J.

Description

John J. Moroney

John J. Moroney was born on March 19, 1923, in Rye to John J. and Mary B. Harnett Moroney. His father owned and ran Moroney Grocery Store on Purchase Street until the 1960s. John attended Iona Grammar School and Iona Prep in New Rochelle. He had two brothers Robert and Richard and in Rye his family lived at 60 Grandview Avenue.

John enlisted and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in the U.S. Army’s 3rd Armored Division in Germany from 1943 to 1946. He received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. He took part in the Normandy invasion and the Battle of the Bulge under Gen. George Patton.

After the war John worked for many years at his father’s store and later joined the staff of Rye Town Park. He started working there in summer as a park attendant, then became a lifeguard and later worked fulltime as a night watchman.

A retired town parks worker, John spent a good part of his day sitting on a bench in front of the Rye Fire Department with his dog, Ziggy. He sported a dark gray beret with a plaid ribbon and was grilling to tell anyone who would listen to his stories about the way Rye was years ago.

James K. Wall, the family attorney, called Mr. Moroney a great raconteur, and said he could tell the same story four times, and every time he told it, it got better.

Sam Passero, superintendent of Rye Town Park, called Mr. Moroney one of his most faithful employees and a great storyteller. He said Mr. Moroney could often be seen with young park employees gathered around him, listening to . stories about ‘the history of Rye or one of his military adventures.

John J. Moroney, a lifelong Rye resident whose stories of Rye history are familiar to many in the city, died of a heart attack Tuesday July 23, 1985 at his home at Theodore Fremd and Locust avenues. He was 62.

He was survived by two brothers, Richard of Valhalla and Robert of Cape Coral, Fla.; and an aunt, Catherine Fehrs of Rye.