Thomas Moran; was athletic director in Boston

For more than 35 years, Thomas E. Moran of Hyde Park made a living teaching Boston youths to throw curve balls, run buttonhooks, and fly over hurdles. His dedication to youth sports was evident throughout his tenure as athletic director for Boston public schools, where he advocated fiercely for the improvement and expansion of athletic programs.

Mr. Moran, a lifelong Boston resident, died Sunday of pneumonia at Caritas Carney Hospital in Dorchester. He was 90.

He graduated in 1938 from Cathedral High School in Boston, then played center for the Boston College football team. He was a member of the 1941 Sugar Bowl championship team. His college career was interrupted by World War II, and Mr. Moran enlisted in the Navy in 1941. He served as a commander on PT boats in the Pacific Theater. He returned to Boston College, graduating in 1947 with a bachelor's degree in education.

Mr. Moran started teaching physical education and coached at several Boston schools. He taught at Roxbury Memorial and Boston Technical High, and he coached basketball and football at Roslindale High, Rindge Tech, and Boston English. He also coached track at Boston Technical.

"He was very, very dedicated to youth sports," said his son Francis of Hanson. "He tried to bring them up with true sportsmanship and teamsmanship. He was a coach in every sense of the word."

In 1972, Mr. Moran left teaching to become athletic director for the Boston public schools. He relentlessly fought budget cuts to sport programs.

"Sports is the magnet that keeps kids in school. It's a must for kids. It's a way of taking out frustrations," Mr. Moran said in a 1985 Globe article. "Sports is also the difference between juvenile accomplishment and juvenile delinquency."

After his retirement in 1983, Mr. Moran volunteered at Flatley HealthCare Services in Milton and was a member of the Hyde Park Hi-Flyers, a senior club.

In addition to his son, Mr. Moran leaves his wife, Dorothy of Hyde Park; four other sons, Thomas of Londonderry, N.H., Gerard of Wilmington, Paul of Newburgh, N.Y., and Richard of Dorchester; eight grandsons; five granddaughters; and three great-grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. tomorrow in St. Pius X Church in Milton. Burial will be in Knollwood Cemetery in Canton.