TOM MOORE'S DAUGHTER, KATHY MOORE, PASSES AWAY

 

            KATHERINE ANN MOORE WITH HER PETS

Tom Moore’s daughter, Kathy, passes away

 

The late BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore’s daughter, Katherine Ann Moore, passed away March 26.

She was a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and lived in Maryland.

Kathy was an elf on the Cuyahoga Valley Train when Tom was a conductor for years.

Kathy joins Tom and Tom’s wife,
Dorothy Doyle Moore, and Kathy’s brother, Thomas A. Moore, in afterlife.

Survivors include Kathy’s sisters, Amy Moore and Caroline Moore Krack.

Kathy’s obituary:

 

Katherine Moore Obituary

Obituary published on Legacy.com by Adams Mason Funeral Home & Crematory - Akron on Apr. 1, 2024.

Katherine Ann Moore (Kathy) passed away the early morning of March 26, 2023.  Born to Tom and Dorothy Moore on June 11, 1953 in Bluefield West Virginia then relocating to Akron, OH with her family as a teen.

 

She was a 1971 graduate of Akron North High School learning the necessary skills (at the time) shorthand and typing. These skills, along with her analytical mind, led her to Washington D.C where she worked for the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. Maryland is where "Kathy" became "Katherine".  Katherine always remained a team player. Stating that the only reason she was successful was because of the people she surrounded herself with. She truly loved her job, her coworkers and friends, (some which became family) Kathy was recognized by 2 presidents for her contributions in her career and truly loved the contribution she made.  Kathy retired as a contract and grant team lead after 35 years.  Once retired, she returned to Akron to spend quality time with her family who she loved deeply.  She volunteered as a trainman and as a polar express elf with her dad on the Cuyahoga Valley Train, and spent quiet days stitching, shopping and talking with her mom. 

 

Katherine was an avid cross stitcher and quilter. She joked that the amount of fabric and floss that she has accumulated could prevent JoAnn Fabric from filing chapter 11.  You could always find her starting many projects and once.  Some would get finished, but only if they were being made for someone that touched her heart.  Kathy also loved to bake and cook. Any chance she could, she would entertain.  Kathy just loved giving to others.  Whether it be food, a crafting piece or something she bought because "I just knew you would love it".

 

 As her health declined, she moved into Danbury Senior Living. It was a struggle for her in the beginning, losing her independence. But that processing, analytical mind kicked in and after a few months had made friends, was entertaining, stitching, sewing and making sure she told the director how to run his building :) She proudly showed her stubborn and feisty side, wearing like a badge of honor.

 

Kathy had so many people that advocated for her throughout her life. Big thank you to Dr. Troy Larson and his wife Rachel, for helping Kathy find God and knowing the comfort that the Lord will bring her.  Thank you for the outstanding care from her numerous physicians, DaVita Munroe Falls, Danbury Senior Living Tallmadge and Southern Care Hospice.  All of you not only had the best interests of Kathy in mind, but also her sisters Amy, Carol and Ann. We will be forever grateful.

 

Kathy is predeceased by her brother Thomas A Moore, father Thomas C Moore and mother Dorothy J Moore (Doyle). She is survived by her sisters Amy Moore, Caroline Krack (John), her niece Amanada Moore and long-life friend turned sister Ann Modzel.

 

Visitation with a memorial service to celebrate Katherine's life will be held on Saturday, April 27 from 2-4. at Adams Mason Funeral Home, 791 E Market St., Akron, OH 44305.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Frontline Ministries International, 6200 Wales Ave. NW, Massillon, OH 

Caroline Moore has first outing with family

From left are Jane Williams, Kathy Moore, Amy Moore, Caroline Moore Krack, Amanda, Dot Moore and Mike Williams

Sunday was a special day for the family of BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore. Daughter Caroline Moore Krack, who has gone through coma and rehab since being hospitalized in January with meningitis, had her first outing – breakfast at Eat’n Park restaurant.

Joining Carrie, as husband John Krack calls her, were Tom and wife Dot, their children Kathy and Amy, their granddaughter Amanda and Mike Williams, still at the BJ, and Mike’s wife, Jane.

Carrie, Kathy and Amy were weekend copykids at the BJ.

In addition to his other BJ duties, Mike has been trying for a year to round up copies of every Tower Topics and Sidebar employee newsletters printed over the years.

Carrie/Caroline, who lives in Minnesota, moved into Tom and Dot’s house from Edwin Shaw Hospital rehab March 26.

Click on the headline for previous stories on Caroline/Carrie’s illness and recovery.

BELATED TRIBUTE TO DOT MOORE ... BLAME COMPUTER GLITCH FOR THE DELAY

 

Dot Moore, widow of BJ retiree Tom Moore, passed away Friday, February 5.

Tom passed away June 10, 2020 at the age of 89. He retired from the BJ newsroom, mainly as Makeup Man, after issuing about a zillion goddamits. We knew what kind of day Tom was having by the number of goddamits that came out of his mouth.  

Dot and Tom were married for 69 years.

Tom was born Ernest Thomas Francesco and reared, but never formally adopted, by Spotwood Moore and Virginia Caroline Moore of Tazewell, Virginia, just across the border from John S. Knight’s birthplace of Bluefield, West Virginia, till 1999. He was born in Richmond, Virginia but didn’t find out till he was 21 that he was adopted. JSK was 3 months ago when his parents left Bluefield for Akron and the beginning of a newspaper empire.

After Tom got into journalism during his Air Force years, he worked on the BJ for 29 years after stops at the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Zanesville News, Lorain Journal and Columbus Citizen Journal. Doris Day once sang to Tom, Sr. and his Air Force buddies.

Dot is survived by three daughters, Caroline Krack, Katherine Moore and Amy Moore.

Tom and another BJ retiree, Mike Williams (who survived being Johnny Grimm’s sidekick in BJ Advertising), were close friends for decades.

Dot’s obituary:

Dorothy J Moore, 92 passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family February 5, 2021.

 

She is preceded in death by her son, Thomas A Moore (Sabrina) and her husband of 69 years, Thomas C. Moore. She is survived by her three daughters, Caroline (John) Krack, Katherine Moore and Amy Moore; her not by blood daughter, Anne Modzel and her only grandchild, Amanda Moore.

 

This is the third year in a row the Moores have experienced a great loss in our family. Dorothy was the kindest, cutest, and the funniest woman that you could ever meet. She’s weathered and experienced the Great Depression, World War II, the end of segregation, the first minimum wage... she watched 48 states become 50, raised four wonderful kids, and was married almost 70 years.

 

She also watched a world progress so much that when she was born - she never thought it would have been possible for her to have what would be her one and only biracial grandchild.

 

She loved flowers, rainbows, puzzles, her family, the wheel of fortune, Christmas lights, and of course birds. The love this woman gave was as radiant as the sun; She was able to cast light into the darkest depths of any human’s soul... she spent her time being anyone’s safe haven. She will truly be missed.

 

The family would like to recognize SouthernCare Hospice for their exceptional care of mom and our family. Special thanks to Dr. Mark Meyer and the Pioneer Medical Group. Because of their diligence, proactive medicine and love, we kept our parents around for years. 

 

A memorial visitation will be held Friday, February 12, 2021 at Adams Funeral Home, 791 E Market St., Akron, OH 44305. from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with final farewell comments from family 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. To help protect the health of others, we are asking anyone visiting to wear a mask. Arrangements entrusted to Adams Mason Funeral Home. (330) 535-9186

Tom Moore calling hours Tuesday

Tom Moore

There will a memorial visitation for BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore at 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 16 at Adams Funeral Home, 791 E Market St., Akron, with final farewell comments from family 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

 

Tom, famed for his goddammits that punctuated his workday at the BJ, passed away Wednesday, June 10.

The family issued a special thanks to BJ Advertising retiree Mike Williams for his long and deep friendship with Tom.

Tom was born Ernest Thomas Francesco and raised by the Spotswood Moore family but never formally adopted till 1999.

Tom’s obituary:

Thomas C Moore passed away on 6/ 10/2020 at 89 years old. He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas A Moore. He is survived by his only grandchild, Amanda Moore; three daughters, Caroline Krack (John), Katherine Moore, Amy Moore and his wife of 69 years, Dorothy.

Dad suffered little in the final days. The congestive heart failure, kidney failure and, 3 days ago, the stroke that took him could not be predicted from his family history.

Tom found out at the age of 21 that he was adopted. He was born in Richmond, VA., legally named Ernest Thomas Francisco and raised in Bluefield W. VA by Spotswood Anderson and Virginia Caroline Moore. In the middle of the Great Depression, the Moore’s raised this neglected child into a strong, hard-working young man who didn’t care that he wasn’t their blood...he loved them even more.

The legal paperwork was never completed. Dad would later make the adoption official in 1999.

In 1948, he enlisted and served 3 years for The United States Airforce during the Korean War. Here is where his journalism and passion for a great story was developed. Forty-one years of newspaper jobs followed: Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Zanesville News, Lorain Journal, Columbus Citizen Journal and finally after 29 years retiring as Deputy Newsdesk Editor with the Akron Beacon Journal. He was very proud of his newspaper career.

“A newsman doesn’t re tire...he just writes away” was his motto. After retirement, he blogged, journaled and continued to openly “critique” the ABJ (Akron Beacon Journal).

Other hobbies he had were those that told a story that he didn’t write. First was photography. Dad owned every new still and/or video camera that came onto the market. Second, he was a movie/music collector. He had a cassette, VHS, DVR, and Blu Ray collection that would put Netflix to shame. Lastly, he was an electronics junkie. From Nintendo and Commodore 64 to PC and Apple. If there was a new electronic gadget out, he had it. He may not have known how to use it, but he had it.

Thanks to Tom Giffen for giving Dad a new purpose; that of reporting human interest stories of players and helping where needed for The Roy Hobbs Softball Hall of Fame Tournaments. He lived for these five weeks every year. He was back in his element of getting a story and making sure people knew it.

Dad also discovered volunteerism, which led him to provide over 2000 volunteer hours to both the National Park Service and The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad(CVSR). In this role, he was a rail rover, a trainman and an elf on the Polar Express.

There was always a story here, as well as a new ear to hear his. He never met a stranger and anyone that met him knew what a great man he was. His writing may be over, but his legacy will live through his granddaughter and his daughters. Therefore, his motto has changed, “A newsman doesn’t die...he just writes away.”

The family would like to recognize Summa Hospice for not only caring for dad but for providing support for the family. Special thanks to Dr. Mark Meyer and the Pioneer M di l G B Medical Group. Because of their diligence, proactive medicine and love, we kept our father around for years.

Finally, thank you to Mike Williams for his friendship to dad and becoming a close family friend.

A memorial visitation will be held Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at Adams Funeral Home, 791 E Market St., Akron, OH 44305 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with final farewell comments from family 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. To help protect the health of our mother, we are asking anyone visiting to wear a mask. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to Faithful Servants Care Center, Dr. Meyer’s nonprofit health care organization, 65 Community Road, Ste F, Tallmadge, OH 44278.

Of loans, eye surgery, Africa

The talk at the monthly BJ Alums lunch at Papa Joe's restaurant included a major first loan, upcoming cataract surgery, a month-long visit to Africa and the "miracle" recovery from meningitis.

BJ Engraving retiree Pat Dougherty recalled the $4,200 loan he got from the Falls Catholic Credit Union from 1971-72 BJ State Desk reporter Paula Stone Tucker's dad, Paul. Pat bought a Volkswagen and a trailer home that he and wife Elizabeth lived in for 2 1/2 years -- behind the Midway Plaza shopping center off Brittain Road.

Paula's parents and Pat's parents were good friends for decades. Pat's dad was a BJ Engraver for years before Pat began working alongside his father at the Beacon. Pat's parents are deceased. Paula's parents Paul and Jane live in the Chambrel retirement complex in Montrose.

Pat is getting ready for cataract surgery on both eyes. Nearly everyone at today's lunch has had cataract surgery and expressed satisfaction with the results.

Pat's brother finally finished building an airplane inside his home, a project that took 2 1/2 years. He'll have to remove the wings temporarily to get the plane outside the building.

BJ Newsroom retiree Tom Moore said that he talked to former BJ sports editor Tom Giffen via Skype, the electronic contraption that lets you see the person on the phone. Giffen and his wife are in Africa for a month. Giffen runs the Roy Hobbs World Series for older baseball players in Florida every year, and Moore handles the daily newsletter and other chores for Giffen.

Tom Moore and wife Dot have their Akron home to themselves, now that daughter Caroline Moore Krack has gone back to Minnesota with her husband, John Krack. Tom says physicians describe Carolina's recovery -- other than some weakness on the right side -- from meningitis and a coma as "a miracle." Caroline was stricken in January and has been staying with Tom and Dot since her release from Summa's care.

Click on the headline for earlier stories on Tom Moore's daughter, Caroline.

Besides Pat Doughterty and Tom Moore, others at the BJ Alums lunch were retired printers Carl Nelson, Gene McClelland and Al Hunsicker and newsroom retiree John Olesky. Only the March lunch, which drew seven, had more in attendance in the past nine months.

The BJ Alums lunch is at 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month in Papa Joe's Restaurant on Akron-Peninsula Road and adjacent to Portage Trail Extension. Current or former BJ employees and their friends are welcome to show up for the food and conversation.

Update on Caroline Moore Krack by husband John

No major changes since last report. We're still in "wait and see" mode, but there are some positive indications. She's moving around more, and she seems to respond somewhat to voices by rolling her head and moving her upper body. She's moving her arms and legs, but not in response to any particular stimulus. She does a fair amount of stretching and yawning and facial contortions as if trying to wake up from a sound sleep. This evening when we got there she fully opened her eyes for the first time, and was blinking normally, but didn't show any indication of recognizing anything or following motion. She repeated this later during our visit. I interpret this as a good sign that her neurological function is beginning to return. We're told that she'll be taking baby steps for awhile, and this whole process will likely take some time. There's no typical pattern for people coming out of these situations, so we just go day by day looking for small improvements.

Caroline and father Tom

They've had the respirator set to respond to her inhalations with an assist (rather than force breaths into her) for a couple of days, and she's been doing pretty well. They turned off the respirator yesterday to see how she'd do on her own, and she lasted about 15 minutes. They tried today, and she went about 5 minutes. They're going to try again this evening. We're told this behavior is not unusual as they're weaning people off of respirators.

They hooked up a feeding tube yesterday to give her some calories. Prior to that, it had just been IV glucose to support metabolism and keep her from starting to break down fat, which creates toxic by-products.

Her vitals have been stable, but BP runs a bit high so they have to reduce it with drugs to relieve stress on the heart.

They plan to do another MRI Monday or Tuesday to check for any changes since the last one.

Bottom line: They're monitoring, providing support as necessary, and waiting for her to wake up. There's been collateral damage, but we don't know what impact it's going to have. The brain is a complex organ, and each person responds differently. Several people who've had experience with these types of patients have told us that they've seen people in worse condition who have recovered quite well.

Your cards are starting to arrive. Thanks for sending them. I took some in today and showed and read them to her, and I'll continue to do this until she can read them on her own. I also took in an IPOD with a bunch of songs and have been playing them to her through headphones to give her some auditory stimulus.

People have asked how I'm doing. The answer is 'reasonably well, under the circumstances.' I'm at her parents' house (Tom and Dot Moore), about 2 miles from the hospital. I'm sleeping and eating reasonably well, but am not yet ready to turn my attention to much else, and probably won't be until I know she's out of the woods. I'm not used to these waiting games, but don't have much choice on this one. Those of you who've been through anything like this know that it's a gut-wrenching experience, made more so by the uncertainty of the outcome and the timeframe. I greatly appreciate your prayers and support and concern. Please don't be too disappointed if I don't send an update every day. It simply means that nothing much has changed. I'll let you know immediately if she makes a breakthrough.

Thanks to all of you who've offered help. Our next door neighbors are looking after our house (thanks, Jim and Paula), I can pay bills online, papers are stopped, and the PO is holding my mail, so I'm OK for now. Future direction will be decided as Carrie's situation becomes clearer.

Thanks again for all the positive energy you're sending her way. If previous fowarders would do so again, I'd appreciate it. I've added to my distribution those who have sent me emails directly, so you'll get dups, but won't have to wait for forwarding. 'Till next time, (with hopefully GREAT news) .....

John

Caroline Jean Moore Krack, daughter of retired BJ newsroom employee Tom Moore and Tom's wife, Dot, and Minnesota teacher's aide retiree, is in Akron City Hospital with meningitis. John and Caroline Krack have been married for 30 years.

Click on the headline to see the earlier story about Caroline, who at times accompanied Tom to the monthly BJ retirees lunches at Papa Joe's Restaurant on Akron-Peninsula Road at Portage Trail Extension.

Tom Moore's daughter goes back to Minnesota

Caroline Moore Krack in van that is taking her back to Minnesota

Our daughter Caroline and husband John came for a holiday visit at
Christmas time.

That visit lasted until today became of Carol's illness.

Today she climbed into their van and headed back to Minnesota.

That's thanks to all the thoughts and prayers for her recovery and of
course we have to thank the great care she received in the Summa health care system.

Dot and I are a bit sorry to see her go, but we're flying to Minnesota
soon, so we'll see her again there.

Tom


Caroline "Carrie" Moore Krack contracted meningitis and was in a coma for weeks. It's been a long road back, but now she's taken the road back to Minnesota.

Click on the headline for previous stories on Caroline/Carrie.

Goddammit!

Tom Moore passed away.

Those who worked with Tom Moore understand why that is a tribute to Tom. You could tell what kind of day Tom was having at the BJ by the number of goddammits he shouted out.

Richmond, Virginia native Tom Moore, BJ newsroom retiree who shared a history with John S. Knight that few of us had, went into home-based hospice earlier this week.

Heart and kidney failure got him.

His wife for 69 years has been Dot Moore.

Their daughters are Kathy, Amy and Carol, all former BJ copygirls. Their son, Tom, Jr., predeceased Tom.

Caroline Jean Moore Krack is a retired teacher’s aide living in Minnesota. She married John Krack. Caroline survived a coma years ago.

Katherine Ann Moore, who lives in Cuyahoga Falls, retired from the Environmental Protection Agency after 34 years.

Tom and Minnesotan Dot were married 69 years ago in the naval communications chapel in Washington, D.C. Tom was in the Air Force at Bolling Air Force Base in D.C. and editor of the base newspaper.

Tom was adopted as a child by Spotswood and Virgina Moore in Tazewell, Virginia, which is just across the border from Bluefield, West Virginia. “I didn’t know I was adopted till I was 21,” Tom once told me.

Doris Day once sang to Tom, Sr. and his Air Force buddies. Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff, Doris Day’s birth name, will greet Tom again personally with “Sentimental Journey.” Doris passed away last year.

Tom’s connection to JSK that few of us had? He worked at the Bluefield Daily Telegraph in West Virginia. John Knight was born in Bluefield but left that as a toddler when his family came to Akron where his father ran a newspaper that became the Akron Beacon Journal.

Tom's 41-year newspaper career was on the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Zanesville News (now defunct), Lorain Journal, Columbus Citizen-Columbus Citizen Journal (both defunct) and the BJ. Plus four years part-time in the Ohio State Patrol headquarters in Columbus, editing the patrol's magazine,The Flying Wheel.

He got his GED degree in journalism while in the Air Force.

Retired BJ reporter Charlene Nevada recalled how Tom set up her primitive computer, by today’s standards, so that she could transmit her article from her home to the BJ. It seemed like a miracle way back then.

Tom also worked for years with former BJ sports editor Tom Giffen’s Roy wintertime Hobbs baseball tournament for seniors in Florida, beginning in 2003, and was a conductor on the Cuyahoga Valley National Park scenic railway. Dot would put together treats for Tom to hand out to the passengers. One of Tom’s co-railway volunteers was Steve Feldstein, brother of former BJ business reporter Stu Feldstein.

Giffen in 1990 formed a four-team league of adult men playing out of Akron. The next year the league grew to 11 teams and joined Roy Hobbs Baseball, which was owned by Ron Monks of California. In 1992 Monks sold Roy Hobbs Baseball to Giffen and his wife, Ellen.

For several years, Giffen ran Roy Hobbs Baseball out of his basement and continued to work at the Beacon Journal. In the mid-1990s, as the organization brought in more and more teams, Giffen resigned from the BJ to work full-time at his business.

Roy Hobbs is the fictional hero of Bernard Malamud's novel, “The Natural,” and the movie starring Robert Redford as Hobbs.

Tom and BJ Advertising Department retiree Mike Williams, who helped Johnny Grimm lay out the ads during the Ol’ Blue Walls days for both, had a long and close relationship.

Here’s the post from Mike, who tipped me off about Tom’s situation before he passed away:

“John,

“I know you'd want to know.  Tom went into home-based hospice about 4
days ago and his daughter Kathy messaged me this morning that he's near
death.  His heart and kidneys are failing. Daughter Carol was in from
Minnesota to see him last week, and daughters Kathy and Amy are close by
with his wife Dot.

“He has been a good friend to me above and beyond our mutual interest in
home computing.  He has served as an open window into the past, from his
hardscrabble childhood in the Southern mountains through his long
newspaper career. 

“Two years running, we shared a motel room for five weeks during the Roy Hobbs World Series of Baseball in Fort Myers FL. 
He had so many stories about the people he worked with and reported on
over the years as he knocked about from one paper to another.

“I will miss him.”

So will I, Mike. Particularly if I hear someone say “Goddammit!” I figure it will be Tom speaking through them.

Saint Peter better get used to hearing "Goddammit!" rattling off the Pearly Gates.

Tom Moore's daughter Caroline in coma

Retired BJ newsroom employee Tom Moore of Akron posted this on his Facebook page:

I'm sorry to report that my oldest daughter, Caroline Krack, has started the new year in a coma. She was diagnoised as having meningitis. She's been in City Hospital for five days. Years ago while in North High, she was a weekend copykid and telephone operator at the Akron Beacon Journal.

Caroline Jean Moore Krack retired as a teacher's aide in Minnesota.

Tom and wife Dot have four children:

Tom's son, also named Tom, who with wife Sabrina Naylor are the parents of Amanda Jean, deals in pallets and junk.

Amy Moore, their youngest daughter.

Katherine Ann Moore, who lives in Cuyahoga Falls, after retiring from the Environmental Protection Agency after 34 years with the government.

All of Tom and Dot's daughters were copygirls at the BJ in their younger days.

Tom Moore, 63, son of BJ Newsroom retiree Tom Moore and Dot Moore, passed away Wednesday, July 3.

A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at Chapparells Hall, 2418 S. Arlington Road in Akron. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m.

Tom, Jr.’s widow is Sabrina Naylor Moore. Their daughter is Amanda Moore. Their residence is on Arlington Road not far from Chapparells Hall.

Tom, Jr.’s siblings are Amy Moore; Caroline Jean Moore Krack, who lives in Minnesota and retired as a teacher's aide; and Katherine Ann Moore, who lives in Cuyahoga Falls, retiring from the Environmental Protection Agency after 34 years. All three are former BJ copygirls.

Tom and Minnesotan Dot were married 69 years ago in the naval communications chapel in Washington, D.C. Tom was in the Air Force at Bolling Air Force Base in D.C. and editor of the base newspaper.

Doris Day once sang to Tom, Sr. and his Air Force buddies.

Tom, Sr's 41-year newspaper career was on the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Zanesville News (now defunct), Lorain Journal, Columbus Citizen-Columbus Citizen Journal (both defunct) and the BJ. Plus four years part-time in the Ohio State Patrol headquarters in Columbus, editing the patrol's magazine,The Flying Wheel.

Tom, Sr. also works with former BJ sports editor Tom Giffen’s Roy Hobbs baseball tournament for seniors in Florida and is a conductor on the Cuyahoga Valley National Park scenic railway.

OLESKY NOTE:
I was only at the event a short while because I had a medical appointment later, but had time to talk to Tom and his daughter. Gloria Irvin and Mary Beth Northridge arrived shortly after Paula and I did so we exchanged BJ memories, too.

Jan. 15 report on Tom Moore's daughter

Husband John Krack emailed this Jan. 15 report on wife Caroline Moore Krack, BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore's daughter, who is in Akron City Hospital with meningitis:

She's pretty much the same. When she's awake she thrashes and bounces her legs around a lot, and moves her arms, to the point where they've had to put light restraints on her to keep her from hurting herself or pulling on the breathing tube. She can extend her feet at the ankles with surprising strength, and seems to have pretty fair strength in her arms, but still lacks coordination and fine motor control. The physical therapist is starting to work with her to get her out of bed, stand up, etc.

They removed the breathing tube yesterday, but there was sufficient swelling in her airway to make it difficult for her to breathe. She also had difficulty expelling secretions. They tried some medication to bring down the swelling, but she didn't respond well, so they put the tube back in, and are giving her steroids to try to reduce the swelling. She actually had the tube out for about 1.5 hours and had good O2 saturation, but they deemed it too risky to leave it out given her breathing difficulty. I expect they'll try again Sunday or Monday. With the tube in, she's able to breathe for long periods on her own, without respirator assist.

No report yet on the neurological tests they've done.

It appears that she's in sort of a "half awake" state where she seems to be aware of some things going on around her and can respond to simple commands, but is not fully awake. I expect there's some awfully weird stuff bouncing around in her head right now.

It was 2 weeks ago tonight that this whole thing started. She's made tremendous progress, but still has a ways to go. But as we've been told so often, this whole process takes time. We continue to wait day by day for improvement.

Thanks again for your continued support.

John

Click on the headline to see an earlier report on Carol's situation. The Kracks are from Minnesota, where Carol is a retired teacher's aide.

From wedding day to 65th anniversary for Tom and Dot Moore

65^th wedding anniversary for Tom Moore

Goddammit, Tom and Dot Moore will celebrate their 65^th wedding anniversary on Thursday, April 14.

Explains BJ newsroom retiree Tom:

“John:

"We were married in the naval communications chapel in Washington, D.C.

Dot is from Minnesota. I was in the Air Force at Bolling Air Force Base

in D.C. -- editor of the base newspaper.

 

“Tom”  

After his retirement from Ol’ Blue Walls, Tom didn’t go off the rails. He went on them, as a conductor for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Dot often made treats for the passengers that she handed to Tom for special delivery.,

Since 2004, Tom heads for Fort Myers, Florida in October to publish a daily newspaper for the Roy Hobbs Baseball World Series for older players run by former BJ sports editor Tom Giffen, who took that show to Fort Myers 28 years ago. Hundreds of guys of various ages take part from all over the world.

Richmond, Virginia native Tom -- who was adopted by Spotswood and Virgina Moore in Tazewell, Virginia and once worked in Bluefield, West Virginia, where John S. Knight was born and lived for 3 years -- and wife Dot have four children, including three daughters who were copygirls at the BJ.

Amy Moore, Tom and Dot's youngest daughter; Caroline Jean Krack, their oldest daughter, who lives in Minnesota and retired as a teacher's aide; Katherine Ann Moore, who lives in Cuyahoga Falls, after retiring from the Environmental Protection Agency after 34 years with the government; and Tom's son, also named Tom, who with wife Sabrina Naylor are the parents of Amanda Jean.

Tom's 41-year newspaper career was on the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Zanesville News (now defunct), Lorain Journal, Columbus Citizen-Columbus Citizen Journal (both defunct) and the BJ. Plus four years part-time in the Ohio State Patrol headquarters in Columbus, editing the patrol's magazine,The Flying Wheel.

"I got my journalist 'degree' from the Air Force via GED and correspondence courses," Tom reports.

For those who don’t know the inside joke about the first word of this article, you could tell how things were going in the BJ Composing Room when Tom was makeup man. Seven Goddammits meant it was a really bad day. Most days had at least a few of the expletives.

If you want to congratulate Tom, his phone number is (330) 762-6669. If you’re too lazy to use your Smartphone, he has a Facebook page.

At the Beacon Journal you could tell what kind of a day Tom Moore was having when he was the newsroom makeup man by counting the number of “Goddammits.”

Well, I’m guessing that, on his wedding anniversary on Friday, April 14, Tom changed it to “Hot, damn, we made it to 66!”

Daughter Amy Moore saw it from a different viewpoint: “How blessed and lucky am I to have amazing parents that are celebrating 66 years of marriage!!!!”

Tom and Minnesotan Dot were married in the naval communications chapel in Washington, D.C. Tom was in the Air Force at Bolling Air Force Base in D.C. and editor of the base newspaper.

Tom's 41-year newspaper career was on the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Zanesville News (now defunct), Lorain Journal, Columbus Citizen-Columbus Citizen Journal (both defunct) and the BJ. Plus four years part-time in the Ohio State Patrol headquarters in Columbus, editing the patrol's magazine,The Flying Wheel.

After his retirement from Ol’ Blue Walls, Tom didn’t go off the rails. He went on them, as a conductor for the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. Dot often made treats for the passengers that she handed to Tom for special delivery.

Beginning in 2004, Tom headed for Fort Myers, Florida in October to publish a daily newspaper for the Roy Hobbs Baseball World Series for older players run by former BJ sports editor Tom Giffen, who took that show to Fort Myers three decades ago.

Richmond, Virginia native Tom was adopted by Spotswood and Virgina Moore in Tazewell, Virginia.

Tom and Dot have four children, including three daughters who were copygirls at the BJ.

That would be Amy Moore; Caroline Jean Krack, who lives in Minnesota and retired as a teacher's aide; Katherine Ann Moore, who lives in Cuyahoga Falls, retiring from the Environmental Protection Agency after 34 years; and a son also named Tom, who is married to Sabrina Naylor Moore.

Maybe 93-year-old Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff will show up and serenade Tom with “The Anniversary Waltz.” Or “Sentimental Journey,” which made Doris famous, or "Pillow Talk," which brought her an Oscar nomination.  

Doris sang to Tom in 1949. Well, to be clearer, and all the other new Air Force members at the amphitheater.

Maybe you know her better as Doris Day.

Goddammit, Tom, you sure know how to pick the ladies for a lifetime or for a night of superior singing!

If you want to congratulate Tom, his phone number is (330) 762-6669. If you’re too lazy to use your Smartphone, he has a Facebook page.

Hopeful signs by Tom Moore's daughter, Carol

BJ Alums got this email from BJ newsroom retiree Tom Moore, whose daughter Carol is at Akron City Hospital:

Here's my son-in-law's latest report. We could have used him as a medicial writer, don't you think? I've got a doctor's appointment this morning and I'll be going to the hospital today. But things are definitely looking up thanks to City Hospital folks and all the prayers.
Tom

The report from John Krack, Carol's husband, who calls her Carrie:

She’s still unconscious, but has taken several baby steps in the right direction the last several days. She’s now opening her eyes a lot, usually in response to voice. Her eyeballs are not tracking movement yet, and I’m not sure if she’s able to focus, but she definitely looks toward me when I talk to her. She’s blinking normally, and sometimes opens her eyes wider than normal. She’s not yet responding to commands like “squeeze my finger” or “raise a finger.”

Today her movements were somewhat subdued because they gave her a little morphine to slow her respirations when testing her ability to breathe on her own. She didn’t last long in the tests yesterday (breathing rate jumped way up) but she went for 2 hours today before they terminated the test on schedule! Her breaths were shallow, but she had good O2 saturation and an acceptable breathing rate. And she was breathing through a tube about 3/8” or 1/2” in diameter, which is like trying to inhale through a large straw. So she did good. They’ll keep the tube in, though, until she awakens enough to maintain her own airway, as unresponsive patients cannot be trusted to do so on their own. Yesterday, without the sedation, she was moving her arms and legs and upper body, stretching and yawning as if trying to wake up.

They put an EEG on her yesterday, and let it run overnight. I could watch the screen as she blinked her eyes and moved, and saw the waveforms get very agitated as they tracked the impulses controlling the muscles. The neurologist told me today that they haven’t had a chance to review the whole thing, but early indications are that she’s not having seizures, which was the main concern. They’ve been trying to do an MRI all day today, but it kept getting pushed back due to other emergencies coming in. I expect they’ll do it this evening. This should give a good picture of swelling and any other damage.

And finally, the best news yet. Just before I left this evening I mentioned something to her, and asked her to nod her head if that was OK. And she nodded! A small nod, but a definite movement nonetheless. I tried it again, and she nodded again. And a third time. So it looks like she’s starting to have some awareness, and we might be able to start some basic communication. And it’s particularly encouraging that she’s showing strong signs of being able to hear, since deafness is the most common impairment from meningitis.

The hospital staff is great, and they’re taking very good care of her. Tomorrow they’re going to give her coffee! (Through the feeding tube, of course.)

Your cards are pouring in. Seven on Saturday and 19 today. I’m showing and reading them to her, and will let her read them all when she wakes up. I think she'll be pretty overwhelmed. Thank you.

Thanks again for all your prayers, well-wishes, support, offers to help, cards, and emails. Hopefully soon we’ll be able to report that she’s awake and talking. I told her today that people need more scrubbies, so she has to get better and get to work.

John

Click on the headline for an earlier post on Caroline Jean Moore Krack, daughter of Tom and Dot Moore, a Minnesota teacher's aide retiree who is in Akron City Hospital with meningitis. John and Caroline Krack have been married for 30 years.