Dr. Barry Brooks Moore

Dr. Barry Brooks Moore, 82, of Camp Hill, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at UPMC Harrisburg Hospital. Barry was surrounded by three generations of his loving family in his final days.

An eminent and respected neurosurgeon in Central Pennsylvania, Dr. Moore's career spanned five decades, leaving an enduring legacy in the greater Harrisburg medical community. He founded Neurological Surgery, Ltd. in 1973, practicing at Polyclinic, Harrisburg, Carlisle, and Holy Spirit hospitals. In 1981, he established the Central Pennsylvania Pain Treatment Center, a pioneering institution that locally helped to shape many of the trends in preventative medicine and pain management that have since become de rigueur in the medical profession nationwide.

Dr. Moore served as Chief of Neurosurgery at both Polyclinic and Harrisburg Hospital/Pinnacle Health, where the program was ranked 43rd in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. He also served as President of the hospital staff at Holy Spirit Hospital. He became known for his signature quip, “If I tell you, you won’t remember,” spoken repeatedly during his numerous presentations and teaching sessions on neurosurgery to residents, nurses, and students. His exemplary career was honored in 2018 when he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from his undergraduate alma mater, Juniata College.

Dr. Moore’s professional education was equally impressive. He graduated with honors from Temple Medical School, where he was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha honors fraternity and the Babcock Surgical Society. He went on to complete an internship at Cincinnati General Hospital, followed by his neurosurgical residency at The Mayo Clinic, where he served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Moore was a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS). He was also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Medical Society, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Mid-Atlantic Neurological Society, the Pennsylvania Medical Society, and the Dauphin County Medical Society.

Born on November 5, 1941, in Roaring Spring, PA, to the late Robert and Mabel Lucille (Sell) Moore, Barry grew up with the small-town values of charity and generosity instilled deep in his essential nature. As his father would always recount, from the time he was a young boy he felt drawn to medicine, a passion that would take root and blossom into a calling that ultimately shaped his life's work.

A lifelong athlete, Barry played football, basketball, and baseball throughout high school, college, and beyond. He was especially fond of schooling men half his age in pickup basketball games at the YMCA, and he continued to play in softball and flag football leagues for much of his life. His athletic prowess led to the scholarships that paved the way for his college education, and he often remarked that his preferred epitaph should begin, “The quarterback who wanted to become a brain surgeon…”.

Barry was also an avid reader and trivia buff — a lifelong philomath and a firm believer in the power of curiosity. He delighted in sharing this love with his children, grandchildren, and others, whether it was state capitals at the family dinner table or neuroanatomy for the operating room staff. His sharp wit extended far beyond the home, as he was well-known for his jokes at the hospital and in the office. Finally, Barry was a devoted fan of fantasy and science fiction literature, harboring a deep affinity for the tales of heroism and adventure he discovered there. He remarked that he found comfort in such stories, since they provided him with a welcome respite after long days at the hospital or in surgery.

He is survived by his loving wife, Carol Elizabeth (Grove) Moore, and his children, Christian Scott Moore (Erica) of Las Vegas, NV, Heather Michelle Moore (Enrico) of Rome, Italy, Noelle Elizabeth Ioime (Daniel) of Hamden, CT, Ryan Matthew Moore (Laura) of Henderson, NV, and Lauren Brooke Cerulli (Michael) of New Cumberland, PA. He was the proud grandfather of Quintin, Jordan, Dorian, Matthew, William, and Sebastian. He is also survived by his brother, Philip Gregg Moore.

A Celebration of Dr. Moore’s life will be held at 2PM on November 2, 2024, at The Lodge at Liberty Forge. For more information, and to share your own memories, stories, and photos of Barry, please visit obits.pennlive.com.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Epilepsy Foundation.