Obituary of Annette R. Morse

Annette Morse June 12, 1927-April 30 Annette was born in Chicago to Minnie and Henry Pshaenich and grew up very poor in the depths of the Great Depression. She was a protective older sister to her younger brother Alvin, and defended him on the tough Chicago streets. Smart and athletic, a self described "tomboy", she became a great beauty, and was a War Bonds Princess during WWII. She had an artistic drive and spirit that permeated every part of her life, and eventually became a professional award-winning sculptor and respected teacher of sculpting. In one of the newspaper articles written about her during her sculpting career, she credited a social worker who visited her childhood home and provided her with her first artist's tools -- a set of colored pencils and drawing paper. She was married for 64 years to the love of her life, Arthur Osher Morse, who preceded her in death by only a month. Annette knew Osher as a kid, and, when he returned from combat in Europe after WWII, they renewed their friendship which grew into lasting love. She was 19 and he was not quite 21 when they married. They began their family two years later with their son Aaron, followed by David and Sharon. Annette had a great desire and need to be a wife and mother, and stayed home with the kids while Osher worked for the federal government. Her family, to whom she was completely devoted and loving, was the center of her life. In her early 30's she began her artwork again while the family lived in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., studying sculpting under the noted sculptor, painter, illustrator and printmaker, Pietro Lazzari. She worked with the human form, primarily the female nude whose earthy beauty she celebrated. She eventually worked in terra cotta, cast cement, wood, marble, alabaster and bronze. Because of her talent, she was sponsored for a one-month stay in Italy to further her study of sculpting and had stoneworkers cut marble out of the same Carrarra mountainside that provided the marble for Michalengo's "David". Sadly, she was never able to finish the sculpture for which the marble was intended, and the family will be donating the rough marble form to an art school. Her sculptures can be found in private homes around the U.S., but she kept her favorites in her home. After moving to Hermosa Beach, California, in 1972, Annette became an influential sculpting teacher with the South Bay Adult School and she encouraged her students to discover and express their own creativity. When her husband, Osher, discovered a love of boating, Annette became his enthusiastic first mate. Their first boat was a small cabin cruiser which they took to the Colorado River, followed by several sailboats. Their final beauty, "The Gryffon", was a labor of love for the two of them. They bought the basic hull of the sailboat, and built the boat together over several years with Annette designing the light, airy and modern interior. Annette's artistic spirit was also displayed in her great personal style. Her vivacity, dress, and jewelry all were an expression of her artistic soul. Her artistic eye was at work in the home she shared with Osher in Hermosa Beach, the perfect place to display their collection of original art and her personal sculptures. Annette was a strong advocate for social justice, and taught her children to be respectful of all people. She and Osher were active in the early Civil Rights movement and fought to integrate their community swimming pool in the early sixties. From her early life through her last days, she was a "people person" who charmed and joked with everybody she met. Up till the time she died, she brought smiles and laughs to the staffs of Oak Tree Villa and Driftwood Healthcare Center, even when she was ill. Adversity actually brought out the best in her ("Why am I laughing? Because it's better than crying!") It can be said that Annette and Osher grew up together, and they could not live without each other. Theirs was a real love story having known each other as children and passing within a month of each other. They both had strong, vibrant, dynamic personalities and leave a large void with their family and friends. Annette is survived by her loving children, Aaron Morse (Stephanie), David Morse (Tenna), Sharon Solomon (Alan), and her much beloved grandchildren Abigail and Rebecca Morse, Joseph and Claire Morse, and Adam Solomon; her brother and sister-in-law Itzik and Sarah Moskovitz, her sister-in-law Anne Pshaenich, and five nieces and nephews. A graveside service is scheduled for Thursday, May 6th, 2011 beginning at 12:00 pm, at Home of Peace Cemetery in Santa Cruz, CA.