Thurston Dwight Moore Sr.

Thurston Dwight Moore, Sr. was born on March 22, 1950, to George and Evelyn Gross Moore in Brooklyn, New York. Raised in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood, he attended public school in the community. He was the eldest son of seven siblings. Thurston was a very playful child, given to pulling pranks and telling jokes. His siblings shared countless humorous stories about his escapades growing up on Lexington Ave and Monroe Street in “Bed-Stuy” and years later as a teen on President Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was also a boy scout.

Thurston served in the United States Marine Corp during the Vietnam conflict. He graduated from Platoon 1010 in 1969. Like many veterans of the Vietnam war, he chose not to speak about it. But the aftermath of war loomed large in his life impacting his health in later years.

Years after returning from the war, Thurston met and married Durenne Kelly. They had three children: Thurston Jr., Shawnte Iris, and Derrick Marcus. In 1988, Thurston’s employer, Mutual of America, offered him the opportunity to relocate from Crown Heights, Brooklyn to Boca Raton, Florida. He and Durenne moved there and raised their family. After his retirement, Thurston returned to New York and later, lived near his son & daughter-in-law, Thurston Jr. and Ana, in Connecticut and Dallas, Texas.

Thurston was an avid sports fan. While living in Brooklyn, he was a coach for the Brooklyn Skyhawks, a “Pop Warner” youth football team. When he moved to Florida, he continued coaching, becoming a coach for the Boca Jets, youth football team. Thurston loved music and he loved to sing. He was eclectic in his choice of music and had a large collection of vinyl albums. He was a voracious reader, with a preference for sports and historical novels. He was a prankster, even as an adult, and it was not uncommon to hear the shrieks of laughter (or outrage) from those who were prey to his pranks.

Thurston transitioned from this life on July 5, 2026. He will be missed for his sense of humor and pragmatic approach to life. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Margaret Hardy, Deborah Coller and Ingrid Moore; and, two brothers, Dwaine Moore and Steven King. He leaves the following to cherish his memory: his children, Thurston D. Moore Jr (Ana), Shawnte I. Moore, Derrick Moore (Dale); two sisters-in-law, Carmen Moore and Gina King; one brother-in-law, Clyde Lord; grandchildren: Madazia Martinez, Tyler Keyon McCullough, Kelli Ciarra Moore, Alec Lorenzo, Devin Thurston Moore, Alex and Alexa Moore; his aunts: Shirley Gross, Hermione McLemore, Cassandra McNair, Rev. Dr. Brenda Gross Nixon, and Alfreda Gross Green; a host of nieces, nephews, “Cousins by the Dozens,” and beloved friends.