Retired optometrist Paul Moss died Oct. 27. The Glendale resident was 83.
He was born in Kansas City, Mo., and grew up in New York. During World War II, he served as a navigator in the Air Force Reserves, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he met his future wife Claire (nee Hellman), and from the Illinois College of Optometry. He practiced in Milwaukee for more than 50 years.
He was a member of Congregations Beth Israel and Shir Hadash, B’nai B’rith, Jewish War Veterans of the USA and the Wisconsin Optometric Association. He also supported the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
In addition to his career, his family called him a “tireless volunteer,” who served as a Boy Scouts Scoutmaster at the age of 80. The family said he also was a sailor, raconteur, jokester, tenor, singer, actor and a master of dialects.
“He was known for his warmth, compassion, sense of humor and zest for life,” according to his family. Moreover, “Though orphaned at a young age and separated from his siblings, he was an extraordinarily happy and optimistic man whose definition of ‘family’ was so broad it included Bosnian refugees and friends of his children.”
In addition to his wife, he is survived by daughters Cheryl Moss of Whitethorn, Calif., and Tzippi (Allen) Rabinowitz of Jerusalem; sons David (Colleen) Moss and Neil Moss, both of Milwaukee; and seven grandchildren.
Rabbis David Brusin and Jacob Herber officiated at the funeral on Oct. 30. Burial was in Mound Zion Cemetery.
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