Robert “Buddy” Moore, director of the UT Space Institute in Tullahoma, passed away Saturday, May 21, after a battle with cancer. He was 68.
A memorial service will be held for him at Woodfin Funeral Chapel, 1488 Lascassas Pike, Murfreesboro, on Tuesday, May 31. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. CST, with services following.
“Our university, our state, and indeed our scientific community at large has lost a remarkable individual,” said UT Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. “Buddy’s contributions to a number of fields will leave a lasting impact matched only by his devotion to UT.”
He is survived by his mother, Edna Pinion Moore, of Lexington, South Carolina; his wife, Judy Smith Moore; children, Amy DuPree and husband Hugh of Franklin, Judy Potter and husband Dan of Knoxville, Hope Webb and husband Charles of Harriman, William Moore of Knoxville, and Patrick Moore and wife Dorothy of Indianapolis, Indiana,; grandchildren, Hugh DuPree III, Harrison DuPree, Jacob, Shelby, and Isaac Potter, Catelyn Webb, and Noah Moore; brothers, Ronald Moore and wife Lynn of Seneca, South Carolina, and Richard Moore and wife Lynn of Florence, South Carolina.
Moore became UTSI director in 2010, taking over from Stephen Corda.
Established in 1964 to focus on research in engineering, physics, mathematics, and aviation systems, UTSI has now awarded more than 1,500 graduate degrees and almost 200 doctorates through its program, run in conjunction with UT’s College of Engineering.
Under his leadership, the institute had several prominent successes, including eighteen consecutive months of having a graduate in space, the fiftieth anniversary celebration of its founding, and new undertakings in both materials and hypersonic flight.
“Our graduates stand as a testament to our contributions to both aerospace and the defense of the country,” Moore said of the institute’s impact during its anniversary celebrations. “We’re also focused on making scientific and technical advances, not only in issues surrounding flight but in the automotive industry as well.”
Moore first came to UT in 1981 as an assistant professor of microbiology, eventually rising through the ranks to become head of that department.
In 2001, Moore became associate dean for research and graduate studies for the College of Veterinary Medicine. He additionally served as director of the Center of Excellence in Livestock Diseases and Human Health for the college as well as director of the Comparative and Experimental Medicine graduate program, a joint effort with the UT Health Science Center.
He also served as a staff fellow at the National Institutes of Health before coming to the UT and was an associate editor of the Journal of Immunology and editor of Infection and Immunity.
Donations may be made in Moore’s memory to Feed the Children Program, New Hope Church of God in Christ, 310 Davis Street, Cowan, Tennessee, 37318.
Woodfin Chapel has an online guestbook for those wishing to leave comments on their website.