Above: Ellen Moore (left) and her sister Mary Louise Moore
Though Marie Louise Moore (M.S., ’85) passed away last year, her lifelong commitment to helping others continues: In her will, she left $10,000 to SF State to support disability programming. Her sister, Ellen Moore (teaching certificate, ’79), says that reflects both Marie’s professional dedication and her personal tenacity.
Marie had cerebral palsy, and movement was extremely challenging for her. That didn’t stop her from a long career in her chosen field. After earning her master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling from SF State, she went on to work for the Virginia School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Richmond, Virginia, for 30 years, first as a teacher and later as a work evaluator.
“She felt a kinship with people with disabilities but had no self-pity,” Ellen says.
After retiring in 2017, Marie continued to help others as a tutor for public schools and an English instructor for refugee children through Commonwealth Catholic Charities. Ellen says that gave her sister first-hand knowledge of how programs for people with disabilities have to make the most of every penny of support.
“She knew disability programs can use the money well,” Ellen says. “She created all her own learning tools and materials and sent them home with her students in hopes parents and family members would carry on reading games and stories with their students.”