Respected Writing Center Mentor Dies

Miami Dade College Kendall Campus part-time tutor, Fred Mooke, 80, died of pneumonia on Jan. 27. He was an award-winning television, producer and writer.

Mooke began his career at WTVJ- Miami’s first TV station, as a cameraman and later worked as a writer and producer for Ralph Renick’s newscast for 22 years.

In 1983 he moved to MDC where he mentored students at the MDC Kendall Campus Writing Center. Mooke participated in Open Mic events hosted by the Writing Center, verified papers for writers in Miamibiance, and proof-edited student essays for faculty dissertations.

A teary-eyed David Tulloch, supervisor of the MDC Kendall Campus Writing Center, said he would miss sitting five feet away from Mooke.

“He has touched over 1,000 student’s lives,” Tulloch said.“He was a treasure here in Miami and held the hopes and dreams of so many people in the palm of his hand.”

Born in New York City on Oct. 6, 1931, he moved to Miami with his parents at an early age. Mooke graduated from the University of Miami majoring in journalism.

“Professor Mooke always had an interesting story to tell,” said Ely Murray a music business major at Kendall Campus, who was tutored frequently by Mooke. “Definitely, he will be missed.”

A tribute to Fred Mooke will be held Feb. 8 at noon in the Writing Center, Room 2207.

Staff writer Consuelo Naranjo contributed to this report.