Brian Moran died of kidney cancer on September 27, 2023, after serving as the Delaware Chapter Chair starting in the fall of 2021 and Vice Chair before that. We are overjoyed to see all his hard work recognized by the Surfrider Foundation with a 2023 Wavemaker Award.
A few Wavemaker Awards are given out each year across the 80+ Surfrider chapters, 90+ Surfrider clubs, and our many partners and collaborators. These individuals, chapters and clubs are recognized for their exceptional leadership, performance, dedication and support in fulfilling the Surfrider Foundation’s mission to protect clean water and healthy beaches. Through their voluntary actions and hard work, they have gone above and beyond, spending countless hours to address the issues facing our communities, states and nation, while having a positive impact and increasing awareness of the Surfrider Foundation.
Brian was a model Surfrider chair. Through his leadership, organization, passion, and kindness, he molded the Delaware Chapter into a high functioning group, punching above its weight.
Delaware is a small state, and not surprisingly, the Chapter does not get a ton of volunteers. But shaking off Executive Committee turnover and the pandemic, Brian accomplished big things and campaigns during his tenure as chair, including: (1) Convinced two towns to pass resolutions against a proposed LNG fossil fuel facility on the Delaware River; (2) Worked with the State parks department to install a much needed shower at a local surf break; (3) Was integral in supporting the only Delaware State plastics bill to pass recently, banning foam foodware and making straws on request only; (4) Applied for and received two Keep Delaware Beautiful grants to fund the Chapter’s Hold Onto Your Butts program that included the installation of butt canisters, distribution of personal pocket ashtrays, media advertising for awareness, media interviews, cleanups and more.
But even more important than those accomplishments was Brian’s work creating a strong and effective local chapter. As he said in his Activist Spotlight in 2022, “I truly believe as surfers we have an obligation to protect the oceans that are so important to us, a place that provides us so much joy”.
