Thomas E. Moritz

Thomas Edward Moritz Thomas Edward Moritz, 68, died December 20, 2005 in Abilene, Texas. Visitation will be Thursday, December 22, beginning at 6 PM with a short prayer service starting at 7 PM at Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, with funeral services at Holy Family Catholic Church Friday, December 23, at 10 AM, 5410 Buffalo Gap Road, Monsignor Fredrick Nawarskas officiating. Gravesite services with full military honors will follow at Elmwood Memorial Park, 5750 Highway 277. Tom was born in Rochester, New York on July 23, 1937, the son of Louis and June Moritz. He spent his early years in Dallas, Texas, and Louisville, Kentucky before settling in Bloomfield, New Jersey. After graduating from Bloomfield High School in 1955, he attended Cornell University where he was a member, like his father before him, of the Seal and Serpent Society. In 1959 he graduated from Cornell with a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration, was commissioned in the United States Air Force and then stationed in Fauville Air Base, Paris, France and the Congo. Tom subsequently served at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. where he met Jacquelyn Flynn at a Washington Redskins game, who was soon to be his 'child bride'. Later the couple moved to Scott AFB, Illinois. Tom then had a remote tour of duty to Kunsan Air Base, Korea. Afterwards the couple moved to Ramstein Air Base, Germany before finally returning to Texas to be stationed at Dyess AFB, where he retired in 1980 with the rank of Major. During his career in the USAF he received three Air Force Meritorious Service Medals and an Air Force Commendation Medal. During his career in the Air Force, Tom earned a Masters of Science in Human Resources Management in Economics from the University of Utah in 1978 and a Masters of Business Administration from Hardin-Simmons University in 1980. Upon his retirement from the Air Force, he began his second career teaching marketing and business law at the Kelley College of Business (formerly the School of Business) at Hardin-Simmons. While at Hardin-Simmons he was able to continue traveling by taking students frequently on learning expeditions to New York City as well as teaching for two summers at Zhengzhou University in the People's Republic of China. He also traveled to Siberia in the former Soviet Union in 1998 to explore the possibility of faculty and student exchanges with Chita State University and Irkutsk State University, both Siberian institutions of higher learning. In the summer of 2001, he was a guest professor for an international student body in the Netherlands. Tom was a popular faculty member with students, colleagues, alumni, friends, and the Abilene community. He is a past recipient of the Outstanding Business Teacher Award, given by the Hardin-Simmons University chapter of Alpha Kappa Psi, the national business fraternity. He also received the Advisor of the Year award for his work with one of the University's social fraternities, and has been honored in Who's Who Among American Teachers. After 24 years of teaching, increasingly poor health led to his early retirement in September 2004. Hardin-Simmons rewarded his time, talent and service to his students by bestowing on him the title professor emeritus. While growing up Tom was active in the Boy Scouts of America, eventually becoming an Eagle Scout and earning his God and Country badge. He also ran track during high school and competed in the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden in New York City during his senior year. Tom was an avid football and baseball fan, his favorite teams being the Washington Redskins, the New York Yankees, the Texas Rangers and the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys. He also enjoyed coaching his children in soccer, baseball and softball. Tom loved good food, traveling, 'bad' jokes and the company of friends. He especially enjoyed his monthly gathering of 'economic redistribution of wealth seminars' and golf scrambles. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Jackie, his daughter Betsey A. Moritz Sarlay and husband Major (USAF) Robert Sarlay, Jr., MD of Dayton, Ohio; his son Matthew Moritz of Stephenville, Texas and Gator, his beloved dog; his sisters Gail Loffrado and husband Dr. Carmine Loffrado of South Orange, New Jersey; Nancy Rapp of High Springs, Florida; Martha Natalizio and husband Paul Natalizio III of Bloomfield, New Jersey; and Kathy Figueroa of Lawrenceville, Georgia, as well as many nieces, nephews and friends. Pallbearers will be Merlin Morrow, Phil Jenkins, Kenny Neal, Dr. Charlie White, Leeland Hardin and Mike Monhollon. He will be remembered by all as a wonderful if demanding teacher, the teller of the quintessential 'bad' joke and the maker of the world's best apple pie. Memorials and remembrances may be sent to Holy Family Catholic Church Building Fund at 5410 Buffalo Gap Abilene, Texas 79606, Hendrick Hospice at 1682 Hickory Abilene, Texas 79601, or your favorite charity.