Kenneth E. Moore, 90, died Jan. 9, 2024, at his home in Ogden, Utah.
Ken was a pioneer in the field of pharmacology and was one of the first professors in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Michigan State University, which he chaired for 14 years. His groundbreaking neuropsychopharmacology research was supported continuously from 1962-2000 by grants from the National Institutes of Health and won him numerous awards, accolades and invitations to speak. He authored or co-authored 277 original research articles, 42 book chapters or review articles and one of the first psychopharmacology textbooks, “Introduction to Psychopharmacology” in 1971. He enjoyed mentoring many undergraduate and graduate students and young scientists.
Ken was born in Edmonton, Alberta, to Jack Moore and Emily “Ivy” (Tarbox) Moore. As a young man, he enjoyed the outdoors and he passed on his love of music, camping, hiking and skiing to his children.
Ken was a running back for the Edmonton Wildcats and played in the 1952 Canadian Junior Football Championship game. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in pharmacy from the University of Alberta and his PhD in pharmacology from the University of Michigan. Ken began his academic career as an associate professor in the medical school at Dartmouth College before joining the faculty at MSU in 1966. In 1974, he spent a year as a visiting scholar at Cambridge University in Cambridge, England.
Ken was a devoted sports fan, having held season tickets to MSU football and hockey games for many years. Topping his list of favorite teams were the Detroit Lions and Detroit Red Wings. He enjoyed playing squash and served as a referee for youth hockey. But his favorite game was golf, and he enjoyed many rounds at the Forest Akers golf course in East Lansing. In 2014, he made the generous gift of a stone bridge over a water hazard on the 18th hole of the West Course to be used by walking golfers like himself.
He was married for 70 years to Barry Moore and together they traveled the world and shared many adventures. Always prepared with a quick one-liner, often to the chagrin of his children, Ken was outgoing and loved to meet people and had friends around the globe. Ken and Barry moved to Ogden, Utah, in 2019 to be near family. There, he was able to continue his love of gardening and bird watching as he settled into old age.
Ken is survived by his wife, Barry; son, Grant Moore; daughter Sandi Booth and her husband, Stan; daughter Lynn Moore and her partner Greg DeRuiter; grandchildren Shane Moore, Matthew Moore, Helena Gryzenia, Ashley Booth Morton and Hana Garcia as well as Daniel DeRuiter and David DeRuiter; and five great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Dennis Moore, sister Ivy May Flarup and son-in-law George Gryzenia.
No service will be held, and the family suggests that those wishing to honor Ken’s memory make a donation to the Moore Distinguished Alumnus Lectureship fund at Michigan State University via givingto.msu.edu or to Planned Parenthood.
