Cleveland Fed announces passing of R. Chris Moore, First VP, COO

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of  R. Chris Moore, first vice president and chief operating officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, on February 20, 2009, following a valiant battle with cancer.

Moore, 53, was a part of the Bank for more than 30 years, having joined the Supervision and Regulation Department in 1977 as an assistant bank examiner. He was appointed vice president in 1988, and in 1996, he was appointed senior vice president in charge of the Bank’s Supervision and Regulation, Data Services, and Credit Risk Management departments. He was appointed first vice president and chief operating officer in March 2003.

As first vice president and COO, Moore oversaw the Bank’s financial services, which include cash processing, check clearing, electronic payments, and savings bond processing. He also oversaw related support functions, such as information technology services, financial management, human resources, protection, and facilities.

During his career with the Bank, Moore also served in numerous Federal Reserve System leadership positions. Most recently, he was the vice chairman of the Federal Reserve System’s Conference of First Vice Presidents and a member of the Conference of Presidents’ Committee on Credit and Risk Management.

“The Bank has lost a huge contributor and popular leader,” says Bank President and CEO Sandra Pianalto. “As one of Chris’s many friends and admirers, I will deeply miss his wonderful blend of wisdom and humor. His many contributions to this Bank and to the Federal Reserve System helped forge our past successes, and his presence will be sorely missed. I have lost a great friend and colleague, and my thoughts and prayers are with Chris’s family at this time.”

Moore was on the “Strong Families = Successful Children” Vision Council of United Way Services of Cleveland. He also served on the board of directors of Recovery Resources of Cleveland, and was a member of the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2002.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Moore earned a B.B.A. in finance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and an MBA in banking and finance from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

An avid curler, Moore competed at the national level and in the trials for the 1992, 1998, and 2002 Olympic Games. He was also a director and, most recently, president of the United States Curling Association.

Moore is survived by his wife of over 30 years, Tracie Blackwell Moore, and their two sons, Michael and Thomas.

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland is one of 12 regional Reserve Banks that along with the Board of Governors in Washington DC comprise the Federal Reserve System. Part of the US central bank, the Cleveland Fed participates in the formulation of our nation’s monetary policy, supervises banking organizations, provides payment and other services to financial institutions and to the US Treasury, and performs many activities that support Federal Reserve operations System-wide. In addition, the Bank supports the well-being of communities across the Fourth Federal Reserve District through a wide array of research, outreach, and educational activities.

The Cleveland Fed, with branches in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, serves an area that comprises Ohio, western Pennsylvania, eastern Kentucky, and the northern panhandle of West Virginia.

Media contact

Doug Campbell, doug.campbell@clev.frb.org, 513.218.1892