James "Jim" Moras
Jul 22, 1953 -
Jun 19, 2021
Jim was born on July 22, 1953, in Springfield, Mass., to Fernand and Jeanne Moras. He attended Catholic schools and graduated from Cathedral High School in 1971. He passed away on June 19, 2021, from cancer. In 1975, Jim graduated from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a double major in American history and business administration. Throughout his life Jim was an avid reader of history. He was also awarded a Masters of Education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, an education specialist degree from Harvard and a Ph.D. from Walden University in planning and social policy. In 1977, Jim began his educational career as a teacher in Togiak, Alaska. He continued working for Southwest Region Schools until 1992. During this 15 year span, Jim worked as a teacher, principal teacher, principal and assistant superintendent working out of Dillingham. Dr. Moras always admired his Alaska Native students and their parents and stressed that his time in the Dillingham area were some of the best years of his life.
Jim married Deborah Mitchell in 1978 in a village ceremony in Togiak. They divorced in 1991. Jim married Ellen Doupe in 1995 and was married for 25 years. In addition to working in the Dillingham area, Jim also was principal in Chignik, special education director for the Lower Yukon School District, superintendent of St. Mary's City Schools and worked as a teacher in Anchorage. In 2003, Jim and his wife Ellen, also an educator, went to work overseas. Jim was the founding director of QSI American School in Kabul, Afghanistan, director of QSI American School in Haiphong, Vietnam, director of the American School in Libreville, Gabon, and finally he served as superintendent of the Universal American School in Kuwait. For 10 years, Jim also worked as an adjunct professor with the University of Alaska both in Anchorage and Bethel. Together Jim and Ellen had six children: Jamie, Mikki, Rebekah, Jordan, Ryan and Sarah. Jim was always proud of his blended family and they had great adventures both overseas and in Alaska.
Jim retired in 2016, and his wife Ellen retired from the Anchorage School District in 2017. From 2017 until his passing, Jim and Ellen traveled all over Alaska and the world. Over the years, Jim volunteered for a number of organizations including EMS as an EMT, Special Olympics, Council for Exceptional Children, the ARC of Anchorage, Providence Hospital, Horizon House, the State of Alaska's Ombudsman's Office and for the United Nations in Vietnam.
Jim is survived by his wife, Ellen; former wife, Deborah Mitchell; sister-in-law, Darlene Moras and brother-in-law Robert Deslauriers of West Springfield.; brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Roxanne Doupe of Santa Cruz, Calif.; mother-in-law, Janet Doupe of Anchorage, Alaska; daughter, Jamie Yager, husband Garrett, grandsons Liam and Isaac and granddaughter Olive, all of Anchorage; daughter, Mikki Easley and husband Kevin of Anchorage; daughter, Rebekah Moras and granddaughter Raley Underwood of Anchorage; son, Ryan Moras of Anchorage; and son, Jordan Stazel of Seattle, Wash. Jim is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jim's parents; brother, Paul; sister, Carol; and daughter, Sarah, predeceased him. No service is planned and Jim's ashes will be scattered in some of his favorite places in Alaska.
