Healthcare CEO, beloved grandfather, decent golfer

Steven Charles Moreau died on July 7, 2017 after spending 24,027 days living life to the fullest. He was 65.

Recently retired CEO of St. Joseph Hospital of Orange, husband, father, grandfather, decent golfer, hater of eggplant and lover of music, Mr. Moreau’s passing after a four-month battle with pancreatic cancer leaves a huge void in the lives of his family and friends and the community he served, his family shared.

He was born in Inglewood, California on September 25, 1951 to Loren and MaryAnn (Wipfli) Moreau. He grew up loving baseball, racing go-carts with his brothers and being a Boy Scout. The family moved to Hemet, where his days were spent helping out in the family fiberglass shop, attending Hemet Valley High School and growing his hair long to impress a pretty girl named Anne Viafora, family shared. His easygoing attitude and boyish face covered a deeply ambitious heart and desire to make his own way, they added.

In 1972 Ms. Viafora and Mr. Moreau married and moved to San Diego, where, after completing his bachelor’s degree, he was thrilled to get his first clinical lab job. Equally thrilling was living four doors from the beach, his family shared. He was in love, he had a job and sand in his toes.

In 1975, his father was diagnosed with cancer, and, with Ms. Moreau’s encouragement, the young couple moved back to Hemet to be closer to family. Mr. Moreau was hired as a clinical laboratory technician at Hemet Valley Hospital and, after only three years, he was promoted to laboratory director. At the ripe age of 27, he flourished in his new role, his family shared, adding that his path forward—as a leader—was clear.

In the years that followed, Mr. Moreau became a father to three children, Marguerite, Matthew and Dominique. The family moved all over California—from Hemet to Riverside to Bakersfield. “It might be two hours from everything, but when you live there its two hours from anything,” Mr. Moreau was known to say. Newport Beach followed and, eventually, Claremont.

His fierce intellect, love for problem solving and profound natural ability to lead allowed Mr. Moreau to rise quickly in the ranks of healthcare administration. He spent 14 years as senior vice president and COO of Hoag Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California before becoming CEO at San Antonio Community Hospital in Upland. His final position was president of St. Joseph Hospital of Orange.

Though Mr. Moreau held numerous board positions throughout his career, the most recent included the Hospital Association of Southern California, the Patient Safety Movement, the Anthem Blue Cross Hospital Advisory Committee and St. Joseph of Orange.

Inspired by his team and the lessons he took from St. Joseph’s, Mr. Moreau was looking forward to spending his retirement volunteering and traveling the world with his wife Anne, helping communities rebuild after natural disasters and providing medical assistance where needed. He also looked forward to more time with his family aboard his boat “The Sweet Thing,” enjoying afternoons in the marina, weekend fishing trips and sunset cruises. He was, family said, a true California boy.

Mr. Moreau is survived by his wife of 44 years Anne (Viafora) Moreau; his children, Marguerite (Christopher Redman), Matthew (Morgan Moreau) and Dominique (Alex Rosales); his grandchildren Gavin, Casper and baby girl Moreau (due in December); and his siblings Mike, Larry, Kathy and Roger.

“Wherever you are Pop-Pop, may the greens be smooth, the beer be cold and the garage be full enough to keep you busy until we can join,” his family shared. “You taught us all that every mighty oak was once just an acorn that stood its ground.”

Family, friends and colleagues are invited to Mr. Moreau’s celebration of life at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 29 at 52 Discovery in Irvine, California.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Moreau’s memory to Arpan Global Charities at arpanglobal.org.