Natalia Moorhead: A light in the community
By Ashley Shah
Natalia Moorhead passed on Dec. 13, 2022, after fighting a rare form of breast cancer for more than two years.
“Natalia’s life was far too short, but well-lived,” husband Jason Moorhead said.
Natalia was known in Scripps Ranch for her active role in the community. She was involved in many volunteering opportunities.
“She was always engaged. There are those who observe and accept, and there are those who make changes. Natalia was always there to make a difference,” Jason said.
Natalia and her husband lived in Scripps Ranch for more than 20 years, and raised two children.
Shortly after moving to Scripps Ranch in the early 2000s, she joined the Scripps Ranch Planning Group (SRPG).
“Natalia served three terms on the planning group before she termed out. She spent nine years dedicated to the planning group. The planning group was one of her main volunteer efforts,” Jason said.
Around the same time that she joined the planning group, her nephew passed from a rare form of cancer, neuroblastoma. So, Natalia took action, as she always did.
“As a means to bring family together and take positive action in remembrance of Lorenzo [her nephew], Natalia and her sister Evelyne started an Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation stand, which carries on each year and has raised tens of thousands of dollars of support for childhood cancer research,” Jason said.
Natalia’s role in the community was grand, but the role she played in her children’s lives was just as grand.
She began a Girl Scout troop, Troop 3152.
“She was engaged and led her daughter Amelia’s scouting experience from Daisy’s through her Bronze award and beyond – until her cancer prevented her from continuing. Natalia was passionate about empowering the girls in their independence and teaching critical life skills – and of course encouraging creativity always,” Jason said.
Natalia and her husband raised their two children in Scripps Ranch where they attended Miramar Ranch Elementary School. To help with the school’s art program, Natalia took over as the lead of the Art Corps™. Art Corps is a program to help teach art in schools. It is run entirely by volunteers.
“She administered and taught that program for the duration of both of our kids being students there,” Jason said.
Her family was a big part of her life, but art, one of her greatest passions, also played a big role.
“Natalia studied Art and Design at SDSU,” Jason said. “She worked at the San Diego Museum of Art for years. Then, she started her own company, called Rissolo Fine Arts, where she would work with clients to select, procure and install art in businesses of all types – hospitals, banks, biotech and selective residences.”
Natalia’s life was full of family, creativity and giving back.
Jason Moorhead described how Natalia would want to be remembered.
“She felt that giving back to the community was part of being in the community. She would want to be remembered as a contributor. It was just part of her nature to help out, and be a part of it all,” he said.
Natalia’s light will not be forgotten.
Donate in memory of Natalia Moorhead
Philanthropic gifts in memory of Natalia Moorhead can be made to support the work of Dr. Rebecca Shatsky at Moores Cancer Center by check or credit card. Donating to UCSD Health through this fund will go 100 percent to Dr. Shatsky, Natalia’s oncologist, who is a world renowned triple-negative breast cancer researcher and practicing oncologist.
By Check: Make your check out to the UC San Diego Foundation (a registered 501-c-3 organization with the tax ID # 95-2872494) and indicate on the memo line that your gift is designated to Fund # E6890 Breast Discovery Fund. Indicate on the check or in an accompanying note that your gift is made in memory of Natalia Moorhead. Checks can be mailed to: Natalia Moorhead Tributes c/o The Gift Processing Office, UC San Diego Foundation, 9500 Gilman Drive #0940c, La Jolla, CA 92093-0940.
By Credit Card: Give online with your credit card by going to this UC San Diego Foundation secure giving page: bit.ly/3xoCyCC
Complete the first online page of the donation form, click the “My gift is made in honor/memory” option at the bottom. Select the Tribute Type “In honor of” and type in “Natalia Moorhead.” For additional information, contact Kristin Waller-Donovan, kwallerdonovan@ucsd.edu.