Craig Moore
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Craig's obituary
Craig L. Moore passed away peacefully on April 13, 2026. He was a devoted husband, brother, father, uncle, grandpa, cousin, and friend who lived with a generosity of spirit that touched everyone fortunate enough to know him.
Born to Edith Elizabeth (Tallman) and John Douglas Moore in upstate New York, Craig grew up in Cohoes and Round Lake, where he was raised with the love of his family and the steady presence of his beloved grandmother, Margaret Burgess (Hansen), whom the family affectionately called "AO”.
An avid outdoorsman, Craig spent much of his life hunting, fishing, and traveling the world alongside his wife, Samantha, and the family and friends who meant everything to him. He found as much happiness around a dinner table at home as he did somewhere new and off the beaten path, and he brought the same spirit to both. Craig had a natural way of drawing people in, and what began as a simple conversation had a way of turning into an afternoon of laughter and stories that stayed with people long after they said goodbye.
Craig built a professional life that was as accomplished as it was purposeful. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics from West Virginia University in 1967 before going on to complete both his Master's degree and Ph.D. in Economics and Statistics from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University in 1972, one of the most respected institutions in the country for public affairs and social science. That same year, he joined the faculty of the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, beginning a career that would span more than three decades and leave a lasting imprint on the field and on the generations of students fortunate enough to learn from him.
During his more than thirty years at UMass Amherst, Craig earned successive appointments from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and ultimately to Full Professor, chaired the Department of Finance for twelve years, led the MBA Program, and served twice as Special Assistant to the President of the University. In 1997, the University of Massachusetts Board of Trustees named him University Professor of Political Economy, one of the institution's highest honors and a recognition of the extraordinary contribution he had made to university life and scholarship. That same year, he founded Massachusetts Benchmarks, a publication he edited until 2002 that became a trusted resource on the economic health of the Commonwealth. After retiring from UMass in 2003, Craig continued to apply his expertise as Chief Operating Officer of Marox Corporation, a member of the Business Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and a board member of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health. He held the title of Professor Emeritus and continued working as a private consultant until the end of his life.
In the classroom, Craig was remarkable. He taught generations of undergraduate, MBA, and doctoral students with a rare combination of intellectual rigor, humor, and genuine care, shaping not only how they understood economics, finance, and statistics, but how they thought about the world and their place in it. Long after they left his classroom, his students carried his influence with them.
Craig lived a life of fullness, rich with adventure, deep friendships, and an abiding love for the people around him. He was the kind of person who made everyone in his orbit feel seen, and the world is quieter without him.
Craig is survived by his loving wife, Samantha (Inman) Moore; his children Katie (Bruce) Stebbins, Kyle (Rebecca) Moore, Ryan (Virginia) Moore, and Meghan Moore; and his grandchildren Makenzie and Taylor Stebbins and Rowen and Callen Moore, whom he adored beyond measure. He is also survived by his beloved sister Gail Moore and her daughters Elizabeth and Vanessa, who held a special place in his heart; his cousins Frank Kelly (Sandi) and Phil Riley (Nancy), who were like brothers to him; and his brother Gordon (Marylouise). He also leaves behind his mother-in-law, Sharon Inman; his father-in-law, George Inman Jr.; his brother-in-law, George Inman III (Jamy); his junior hunting partner and nephew, Jackson Inman; and many beloved nieces, extended family, and friends.
In keeping with the way he lived, Craig asked that his passing be marked with celebration rather than a formal farewell. His only request was that Samantha throw a party. Those who knew and loved Craig are warmly invited to join in a celebration of his life in Southwick, Massachusetts. Details and date will be shared at a later time.
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