08/19/2025
BRISTOL -
Surrounded by his loving family, Thomas Edward Moran of Bristol, RI, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2025, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and cancer. He was 88. Tom was born in Amsterdam, NY to John E. Moran and Marion Bettinger Moran.
Tom arrived in Bristol after a long and remarkable career in the federal government, specializing in international finance. He spent most of his professional life in Washington, DC, where he met his devoted wife of 36 years, Lynn Sullivan Moran.
His adventurous spirit and quiet tenacity were evident at an early age. Days after graduating from high school in upstate New York, Tom joined the US Navy. For five years, Tom traversed the globe, nurturing lifelong interests in travel, history, and the sea as a crew member of a Navy transport squadron. Determined to pursue these passions in a career, he set his sights on Georgetown University’s prestigious School of Foreign Service. To satisfy admission requirements, he returned to high school to take additional courses while working in a sawmill.Tom earned an undergraduate degree in International Economic Affairs from Georgetown.
After stints at Irving Trust Company in its International Banking Division and the US Agency for International Development (AID) as a Project Development Finance Officer, Tom joined the Export-Import Bank of the United States where he spent most of his career.
He served for more than 30 years at Ex-Im in a variety of senior leadership and SES roles. In his last position as Vice President, he led Ex-Im’s Europe and Eastern European division. After the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, Tom was instrumental in opening businesses in these newly minted countries, arranging financing for enterprises ranging from airlines to pipelines. Some of his proudest achievements were assisting in the financing of Gazprom, Russia’s, gas, and energy company and supporting the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission under President Bill Clinton.
After his retirement from Ex-Im, Tom served as an advisor to a variety of international corporations and governments, including the US Department of Energy and the Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation. Always a gentleman, Tom remained understated about his professional accomplishments and was immensely proud of his service to the federal government and the US Navy.
Over his lifetime, Tom traveled to 65+ countries and traveled frequently to Russia. He and his wife Lynn adopted daughters Katherine and Marguerite from Russia, who joined his beloved stepson, Roberto S. Pena to complete their family. To share his interests in international travel and history, Tom would often quiz his children and their friends on world geography and history. He kept a keen eye on current affairs here and abroad.
Tom also loved boats and the ocean. As an adult, he learned to sail, crewing with friends on their boats. Some of his happiest moments were at the helm of “Windrush,” his beloved, all teak, Hallberg-Rassy sailboat.
Tom spent the past 3 years at the Rhode Island Veteran’s Residence Home in Bristol. His family would like to thank the incredible staff for his care.
Tom is survived by his wife Lynn and children: stepson Roberto S. Pena (Claire Blaustein Pena), Silver Spring, MD; Katherine M Laperriere (Dominic Laperriere), Nashua, NH; Marguerite M. Moran, Bristol, RI; grandson Callan Blaustein Pena; his sisters: Nancy Nargiz (Richard Nargiz), Wi******er, VA; Colleen Friedberg (Dr. Stanton Friedberg), Vancouver, WA; and brother Richard Moran, Stuyvesant, NY; sisters-in-law: Abigail Moore, Kelley Sullivan, Judith Sullivan (predeceased); brothers-in-law: James M. Sullivan, Christopher J. Sullivan, John D. Moore; nieces and nephews: Carlos and Jack Moore, Hope and James Sullivan, Christopher, Molly and Rowan May Sullivan, Elizabeth Nargiz Collins, Michael Nargiz, Mark, Suzann, and Jill Friedberg.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Mary’s Church, 330 Wood Street, Bristol, RI, on Monday, August 25, at 10 AM. Calling hours on Sunday, August 24, 4-6 pm, at George C Lima Funeral Home, 367 High Street, Bristol, RI. Internment is private.
Please consider donating in Tom’s memory to the Rhode Island Veterans Residence, Activities Program, 480 Metacom Avenue, Bristol RI 02809; or support a scholarship fund in Tom’s name at the East Bay Sailing Foundation at https://www.eastbaysailingfoundation.org/donate
For more information, please visit www.limafh.com