Harold “Hal” Moore succumbed to the ravages of lung cancer on January 17th 2024. He was 79 years old. As a proud Vietnam-era veteran, he fought bravely against his Stage 4 cancer for two years, with the help of Fred Hutch Cancer Care Alliance.
Hal was the son and namesake of Harold E Moore, an U.S. Air Force pilot during World War II and Ann Thomson Moore of San Angelo, TX, who predeceased him. Hal attended St Paul’s School in New Hampshire and Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, as well as the University of Texas in Austin where he was one of the first graduates in their nascent Latin American Studies program.
Hal had a long career as a journalist, photojournalist, photoeditor, radio commentator, mentor and educator, with his career spanning more than 25 years. Although he often worked as a freelancer, he spent many years at the Associated Press (AP), Reuters Pictures and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
As an AP cameraman based in Mexico City, he covered major international events throughout Latin America, including Papal visits by John Paul II, the assassination of Archbishop Romero, several Olympic Games, Pan American Games, World Cup Soccer events and countless wars, coups, revolutions, elections, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, landslides and other environmental catastrophes in Central and South America. Two principal events that shaped Hal’s career were the handing over of the Panama Canal during the Presidency of Jimmy Carter and the Nicaraguan invasion and overthrow of the government by the Sandanistas. That conflict resulted in his by US being recognized with the Overseas Press Club Award in 1979 for his AP Radio live coverage.
Looking to pass along his knowledge of the region, he assisted in creating the Latin American Journalism program, which was funded by USAID and administered through Florida International University. The program, based in Panama and Nicaragua, mentored local journalists newly encountering a free press after government repression. He was particularly proud of the lasting impact these schools have had and continue to have in fomenting democratic ideals in the region.
Fully retiring, Hal moved to Bainbridge Island in 2002 where he enjoyed serious landscaping for steep slopes, raising chickens, cultivating collections of antique tools and classic cars, fishing with neighbors and entertaining his adoring pack of grandchildren. As his disease progressed, Hal remained comforted by his beautiful island home and garden, his pets, and the support shown by his medical team, as well as close family and friends. Hal is survived by his wife, Stephanie Hanna, stepdaughters Susannah Dhamdhere (Aashish), Shelley Livingston (Mark), and grandchildren Chloe Dhamdhere (18), Kiran Dhamdhere (14), Charlie Livingston (10) and Wesley Livingston (7), all of Seattle. He is also survived by his brother, Thaddeus Moore and sister-in-law Ellen Moore of Dallas, Texas.
Hal was a great raconteur, a loyal friend, a devoted member of his extended family and a good man who will be deeply missed. A small celebration of his life will be held at his home on Bainbridge Island on May 4th at 10:30a.m. According to his wishes, Hal will be interred in his beloved Bainbridge garden and later in his birthplace of San Angelo, Texas on June 1st. Anyone wishing to donate in his honor can contribute to Fred Hutch Cancer Research (FredHutch.org) in Seattle, the Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (BARN) or a charity of their choice.
