Arthur Morse

Obituary of Arthur Morse

Arthur Osher Morse September 10, 1925 - March 28, 2011 On March 28, Arthur Osher Morse passed away peacefully in Santa Cruz, in the company of his loving wife of 64 years. He was 85 years old. He was born in Chicago in 1925 to Morris and Lena Moskovitz, both immigrants escaping from the pogroms of Czarist Russia. At 13, he became fascinated with science and technology and built his own radio station, designing and building both the transmitter and receiver. Using Morse code at first, he later built a powerful voice transmitter, communicating with enthusiast around the world. From 14-16, he was a member of the American Radio Relay League and was on call for emergencies. When World War II came, he enlisted in the Army at 17 and was sent to the University of Michigan for special training. As war raged on, the army suspended that program, sending him to war as a radio operator. A month after D-day, he spent his 19th birthday under fire, eventually fighting his way through France, Belgium, and Germany. He was a hero at the Battle of the Bulge when his radio was destroyed by shrapnel and he ran wounded through machine gun and cannon fire to retrieve another one, running back through heavy fire to direct the action himself. For that, he received the Bronze Star for bravery. After the war, he married Annette Pshaenich whom he had known since childhood and who became the love of his life. Attending UCLA, he graduated first in his class in physics, and started his career as a physicist, engineer, and inventor. His love of technology was his life's work. He was a true "rocket scientist" working with missile, satellite and weapons systems. They had three children, Aaron, David and Sharon whom they raised in Suburban Washington DC until moving to Southern California in 1962. He was the quintessential devoted family man, involved in Scouting, baseball, dance recitals and neighborhood cookouts. He and Annette were the perfect match: he an engineer and she an artist. When they built their first sailboat together ("Gryffon"), she designed it, he built it. He was happiest when they sailed together with their lovable dog, "Scruffy" to Santa Catalina Island. He was a true man of honor, helping to integrate the neighborhood swimming pool club in the early 60's in Maryland. He was an idealist and taught his children to be the same. He fought for his country in the war and then spent his career protecting the country during the cold war, retiring several years after the Berlin Wall came down. Osher was a brilliant man of many talents, interests and passions. He could fix or build anything from a car to a sailboat engine as well as do finished cabinetry. He put airplane seatbelts in his 1955 Nash rambler when car seatbelts were unheard of. He did everything. A lifetime "boy scout" and engineer, he was always well-prepared: while working for Aerospace corporation, with a knife strapped to his ankle, he cut his way through the jungles of Saipan with Navy Seabees, looking for an old WWII radar instillation. We remember you, Dad, most of all, for your sense of humor and your joy of living-like when you competed with your brother at family seders for who could sing the loudest and longest. He is survived by his wife, Annette, his brother Itzik Moskovitz (Sarah) of Pacific Palisades, CA, his children, Aaron Morse (Stephanie) of Santa Cruz, CA, David Morse (Tenna) of Greenbelt, MD and Sharon Solomon (Alan) of Manhattan Beach, CA, grandchildren Abigail, Rebecca, Joseph, Claire, and Adam and many loving nephews, nieces, and cousins. Graveside services will be held at Home of Peace Cemetery, Meder St. in Santa Cruz, on Friday, April 1, 2011 at 12:00 pm.
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel
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