The Venerable Dr. Kathleen M. Moore

The Venerable Dr. Kathleen M. Moore passed away peacefully on Friday, February 18, 2022, in Tampa, at the age of 70. She is survived by her husband Nicholas Nitch, sister Christine Harrison, brother-in-law Hal Nitch, and sister-in-law Carol Clemens.

Born on August 31,1951 in Driffield, United Kingdom, Kathleen began her professional career in Europe as a teacher of English as a second language. After coming to the USA in 1977, she spent more than thirty-five years as an administrator and teacher in adult and higher education. She was a senior administrator at the University of South Florida from 1990 to 2014, and also taught in the College of Education. Kathleen earned a BA degree in Modern Languages, an MS in Counseling and Human Development, and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. She also completed the Harvard University Graduate School of Education program in the Management of Lifelong Education.

Much of Dr. Moore’s voluntary service and community involvement has been centered around adult religious formation and education. After being confirmed at St. John’s Tampa in 1991, she served on the Board of Directors of the St John’s Episcopal Parish Day School, and as a planner, developer, and leader of adult education programs at St. John’s; including founding member of Contemporary Women’s Bible Study (CWBS), a dynamic program for women who want to benefit from reflection upon biblical texts that address faith and life today. Dr. Moore served for several years on the Board of the Franciscan Center of Tampa, briefly on the Grants Committee of the Community Foundation Tampa Bay and, until her passing, was a member of the Board of Directors of Cornerstone Kids, Inc. For the past several years, Dr. Moore has volunteered with the Faith Cafe, a homeless outreach partnership of several South Tampa churches and Metropolitan Ministries. More recently she also served on their Board of Directors. Since 2017, Kathleen has been involved with Love INC of Metro Tampa, an organization dedicated to alleviating poverty, homelessness, and unemployment in the Tampa Bay region, where she has served as a member of the Board of Directors and Co-Chair since 2019.

Dr. Moore was a founding member and past chair of USF Women in Leadership & Philanthropy. During her tenure as chair the organization experienced significant growth in size, scope and impact. In addition to her dedicated volunteer service, Kathleen also demonstrated her leadership by her generous philanthropy, establishing the Elsie A. Moore Memorial Scholarship fund in memory of her late mother and endowing the Dr. Kathleen Moore Faculty Excellence Award Program to recognize research and creative efforts focused on women, women's issues, and women's initiatives.

In 2018, Dr. Moore accepted an invitation to join the Athena Society, an organization of Tampa professionals who have demonstrated leadership in the community and committed themselves to promoting equality and opportunity for women.

Music has always been one of Dr Moore’s great loves. She has sung in various community choirs and has long been a supporter of the Florida Orchestra, the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, and the St Pete Opera.

In 2013, as she prepared to retire from her position as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of South Florida, Dr Moore entered discernment for Holy Orders and was ordained by the Right Reverend Dabney T. Smith to the Sacred Order of Deacons on December 3, 2016.

Kathleen served as Deacon of her beloved church community for the past five years. On February 1, 2017, Bishop Dabney Smith appointed her to be Archdeacon of the Diocese of Southwest Florida. In the autumn of 2018 Archdeacon Kathleen graciously accepted the Bishop’s invitation to serve as Dean of the School for Ministry, at which she excelled.

A service in celebration of the life of the Venerable Dr. Kathleen M. Moore will take place at St. John’s Episcopal Church 906 S. Orleans Ave, Tampa, FL 33606 on Saturday March 12, at 11:00 am, with the Right Reverend Dabney T. Smith presiding. All are welcome to attend the service followed by a reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, gifts to the Elsie Moore Memorial Scholarship may be made via mail payable to the USF Foundation c/o the Office of Donor Relations, ALC100, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620 or online at https://giving.usf.edu/online/gift/f/896002, or to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 906 South Orleans, Tampa, FL 33606. The family would also like to thank the caregivers at Tampa General Hospital and the Melech Hospice House for the professional and dignified services they provided.