STANLEY, VA – John Damian Moss, 63, passed away from complications of COVID-19 on Wednesday May 4, 2022, in Page County, Virginia, where he lived most of his adult life.
John was born on Monday January 5, 1959, in Wilmington, Delaware. He was a graduate of Newbury College (Brookline, MA), where he studied culinary arts. Throughout his life, he worked as a chef at numerous restaurants, including a resort in Bocas del Toro, Panama.
On Saturday June 10, 2006, John married the love of his life, Maureen, who survives him.
John and Maureen fulfilled a shared dream when they opened Moonshadows, a fine dining restaurant, located in Luray, Virginia, in 2017. Together, they developed the restaurant layout and dining experience, as well as the menus, where he was proud to feature locally sourced products.
John enjoyed spending time with his large family, fishing, and preparing wonderful meals for family and friends, where he often tested new recipe ideas. John loved sitting around a campfire with friends, drinking wine, talking and laughing.
In addition to his wife Maureen, John is survived by his mother, Patricia Buckley Moss; three stepchildren, Heather (Kevin) St. Peter, Damon (Özge) McWhorter, and Mollee McWhorter (James P.) Kuhn; four sisters, Mary (Kerry) Donnelly, Patty (Mary) Moss, Rebecca (Roberto) Ghezzi, and Virginia (Corrado) Gabellieri; and one brother, Chris (Lisa) Moss. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Moss; and his stepmother, Malone Moss.
A memorial service for family and close friends is planned for a future date.