Richard W. Moriarty, MD

Richard W. Moriarty, M.D. 

Dr. Richard W. Moriarty died peacefully on September 7, 2023 at the age of 83.  A native Pittsburgher, he was born and raised in Lawrenceville. Following graduation from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor Degree in Science, he attended the University of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine where he obtained his Degree in Medicine in 1966. He was an Intern (1966-1967) and Resident (1967-1969) in Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and a Fellow in the Department of Medicine’s Section of Clinical Pharmacology at the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine (1969-1970) and Chief Pediatric Resident at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (1970-1971). He was an Assistant Professor from 1971 to 1977, an Associate Professor from 1977 to 1987 and an Associate Clinical Professor from 1987 to 2004, all in the Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

He served on numerous local and National committees, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Poison Prevention Packaging Technical Advisory Committee, as both a member and Chairman.

In 1971, he founded the Pittsburgh Poison Center at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. As Director of the Poison Center, he instituted the development of a poison-prevention education program that included the creation of Mr. YUK, the green-face poison warning symbol, that some have cited as the world’s first emoji.

He is survived by his husband, David Hairhoger; nephew Edwin Moriarty (Elizabeth); niece Amy Anderson (Robert); great nieces, Sarah Quitaro (Joshua), Emily Brown (Wesley); great nephew Scotty Moriarty (Sabra); great-great nieces Charlotte and Quinn Brown; great-great nephews Brandon and Colin Quitaro and Joey and Brody Moriarty.

Friends will be received at John A. Freyvogel Sons, Inc. 4900 Centre Avenue at Devonshire Street (freyvogelfuneralhome.com) on Sunday and Monday 2-4 and 6-8pm. Funeral Tuesday, September 12, 2023 will be private.

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