Founder Of Ruffino’s, TJ Ribs Restaurants TJ Moran Dies At 84

Baton Rouge philanthropist and restaurateur TJ Moran has passed away at the age of 84.

In the early 70's, Moran was brought to New Orleans for a business opportunity. It was there that he visited Ruth's Chris Steak House. He met founder Ruth Fertel. He opened his first Ruth's Chris franchise in Prairieville, and went on to become the company’s largest U.S. franchisee with about a dozen locations.

He founded TJ Ribs in Baton Rouge in 1986. He operated Ninfa's and founded Ruffino's as well. In more recent years, Moran sold his restaurants, only keeping a small interest in the Ruth's Chris in Baton Rouge.

His philanthropy was nothing short of amazing:

After his own battle with cancer, Moran became a champion of Mary Bird Perkins--Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Center and had been a cancer survivor for more than 25 years. In 2011, he donated $1 million, then matched additional donations at a fundraiser.

He also was a founding director of the Dale Brown Foundation, which promotes educational opportunities for students from underprivileged backgrounds; and served on the boards of the Pennington Family Foundation, Girls & Boys Town and Baton Rouge River Center. Moran has helped the Boy Scouts of America — Istrouma Area Council, Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, St. Jude Research Foundation and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He was a charter member of the Karnival Krewe de Louisiane.

 

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