Farewell to a Father
“John was, first of all, a father and a husband, a man who cared for his wife, Robin, and his children. In his work as an editor, he cared for his authors. As I wrote my book on Archbishop Viganò, he helped me at every turn. He has left us too soon.” —Thoughts on learning of the unexpected death Saturday night, December 5, of my editor and friend, John Moorehouse of TAN Books at age 51 (1969-2020)—RM
Above, the Moorehouse family. John is in the back on the right, and next to him is his wife, Robin
December 7, 2020
Dear Friends,
I write with sad news.
My editor at TAN Books, John Moorehouse, 51, unexpectedly passed away two days ago, on Saturday evening, December 5.
In his passing, John leaves a young widow, Robin, and their five children.
John told me on Friday afternoon, December 4, during a 23-minute telephone call that he was “happy” he could finally slow down a bit for the Christmas season, after months in the summer and fall of intense work, not least on Finding Viganò, to spend more time with his family. “I can begin at least to start taking the weekends off,” he said. “Robin will be pleased about that.”
Moorehouse on Saturday evening went to sleep early, at about 9:30 p.m. Minutes later, he suffered a heart attack. His wife, Robin, tried to resuscitate him while waiting for an ambulance. In those moments, the daughter placed her own brown scapular around her father’s neck.
John leaves his widow, Robin, and five children, the oldest a freshman at Christendom College. John spoke with great pride on many occasions about his children.
I ask readers to consider sending a contribution to the family’s Go Fund Me page at the link below.
Who was John?
John was always “there” for his writers, always steady, calm, cheerful, hopeful.
He was a man who assessed his writers, and then got behind them and pushed, or ahead of them and pulled, or right alongside of them adding his own shoulder’s strength to push forward the mired wheel of the empty page, always improving…
He was a man who tried to make the good better, and the better best.
Every writer needs to find a good editor. I found Moorehouse.
John was an evangelist with his whole mind and heart.
He placed the work, the project, the product, ahead of himself.
That very disappearance meant an even deeper and more essential presence.
John’s integrity is woven throughout all of the projects we worked on together, and my debt to him is incalculable.
Prayers
So I honor John today, and praise the good man, an editor of intelligence and thoughtfulness, calm and courageous.
I will miss him, and now that he has gone, I thank him here for everything he gave so generously to me.
Thank you, John Moorehouse. Godspeed.
May eternal light shine upon you, and may you rest in peace.
Robert
P.S.: Please send gifts to support John’s widow, Robin, and his five children, who have been left suddenly without their father. Click on the link below. All funds go directly to the family
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