John Moore Jr., plastic surgeon and educator

John Harlan Moore Jr., 58, of Radnor, a plastic surgeon and educator at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, died of lung cancer on Monday, Sept. 26.

Early in his career at Jefferson, Dr. Moore traveled with Operation Smile to developing countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico, Nicaragua, as well as to Africa to treat cleft lip and palate deformities.

After a trip to Liberia in 1988, he told the Philadelphia Daily News, "There's tremendous satisfaction knowing you made an impact on one family by a simple operation. A child born with a facial deformity has very little hope or chance for a future.

"I guess I still have a '60s mentality," he said. "All of us went into medicine to help other people."

In 1997, Dr. Moore was among medical professionals who advocated, successfully, for passage of legislation in Pennsylvania that expanded insurance coverage for breast cancer patients who required mastectomies and reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Moore supported cosmetic surgery for older patients, including face- and neck lifts. In 2005, he told The Inquirer, "There's been a real change in how our society perceives the elderly. You can be 80 and be vibrant and active and outgoing."

Dr. Moore joined the practice of Jefferson plastic surgeons James W. Fox and J. Wallace Davis in 1987. Davis' father, Warren, established the practice in 1913 and later pioneered facial reconstructive surgery on soldiers during World War I.

As a clinical professor of surgery at Jefferson, Dr. Moore "thoroughly enjoyed teaching medical students and residents," his wife, Jane King Moore, said. He was actively involved in research with his residents, resulting in the publication of numerous articles in medical journals. He wanted the students and residents to be better than he was, his wife said.

A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Moore was a member of several professional societies and a senior examiner for the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He was a past president of the Volunteer Faculty Association at Jefferson, the Jefferson Medical College Alumni Association, and the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital medical staff.

A native of Lancaster, Dr. Moore earned his bachelor's and medical degrees from the University of Virginia. There he met his future wife, who was studying for a master's degree in nursing. A friend bet him $10 he couldn't get a date with her. When he asked her to watch skydivers on a Sunday afternoon, she said yes. "I didn't know about the bet until after we were married," she said.

Dr. Moore completed a surgical residency at Jefferson and was a fellow in hand and microvascular surgery at the Hand Rehabilitation Center in Philadelphia. He joined Jefferson after completing his training in plastic surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Dr. Moore enjoyed spending time with his wife and family at their vacation home in Stone Harbor. They were members of the Yacht Club of Stone Harbor and former members of the Philadelphia Country Club. He was a member of the Men's Garden Club of Philadelphia and the Button, a men's social club.

In addition to his wife of 31 years, Dr. Moore is survived by daughters Molly, Lucy, and Nancy; and a son, John III.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, 625 Montgomery Ave., Bryn Mawr.

Donations may be made to the John H. Moore Jr., M.D. Surgical Residency Fund, Jefferson Foundation, 925 Chestnut St., Suite 110, Philadelphia 19107.