J.P. Mooney Jr., 81, La Salle economist

Joseph P. Mooney Jr., 81, of Hatboro, a professor emeritus of economics at La Salle University, died of pneumonia Sunday at Abington Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Mooney, who graduated from La Salle in 1949, returned as a faculty member five years later after briefly selling insurance and working for RCA.

He loved teaching and took tremendous interest in his students, said John Rossi, a retired La Salle history professor and a friend for 37 years.

In 1973, Dr. Mooney received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching. He served on the faculty senate for 11 years, including two years as president, and was chairman of La Salle's athletic committee and a special committee on the faculty pension plan.

Dr. Mooney was an expert on the economics of developing countries, particularly El Salvador, his wife's homeland. He was a consultant to the State Department, the Central Bank of El Salvador, and the United Nations. He was an economic-feasibility consultant to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on construction projects, including the Blue Route.

As an expert legal witness, he estimated economic losses from death and personal injury, and testified on business losses in disaster cases.

He retired from La Salle in 1993, but continued consulting until 2005.

Dr. Mooney graduated from Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia. At 17, he enlisted in the Navy. During World War II, he served on the mine sweeper Quest in the South Pacific and later in the Bay of Japan.

After his discharge, he earned a bachelor's degree in economics from La Salle and a master's degree and a doctorate in economics from the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1953, he married Maria Mendoza, whom he had met at a college mixer while she attended Immaculata College in Chester County. He often visited El Salvador with her and became fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Mooney was charming and a great storyteller, Rossi said. Growing up, he played sandlot baseball and was a fanatical Phillies fan. "He threw himself into the game," Rossi said. "It was fun to watch. He didn't want to die until the Phillies won the pennant. And he got his wish."

Dr. Mooney was also a fan of Notre Dame football and enjoyed playing tennis, fishing, and vacationing with his grandchildren on Long Beach Island, N.J.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons Michael, Joseph F., Richard and Paul; daughters Mary Ellen, Patricia Skrzat and Bernadette Shillington; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 11 a.m. tomorrow at St. Luke the Evangelist Church, 2316 Fairhill Ave., Glenside. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at the May Funeral Home, 354 N. Easton Rd., Glenside. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Cheltenham.