Leo M. Moss

Surrounded by family and embraced in love, Leo Moss of Frederick, MD, passed quietly from this life on July 20, 2012.

Leo was born on February 8, 1930, in Pittsburgh, PA, where he lived and attended school. After re-ceiving his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954, he joined the United States Navy as a commissioned officer stationed in San Diego. After his service to country, Leo began a career of retail management in both California and Hawaii.

In the mid-1960s he was inspired to join the Peace Corps. He and his family moved from Hawaii to the very tiny and primitive island of Yap, where he served as the director of the U.S. Trust Territories of Micronesia. His leadership there was instrumental in helping the islanders learn to build roads, maintain schools, and improve their agricultural expertise.

Following this assignment, Leo accepted an administrative role at the Peace Corp headquarters in Washington, D.C. From there, he was given a new assignment and moved with his family to Kuala Lumpur, where he served as the Peace Corps Director of Malaysia. He encouraged, supervised and guided hundreds of volunteers throughout the country, from Malacca to Penang, to help those in need.

Upon his return to the United States he worked to help introduce health maintenance organizations to the public. With this experience in the public health field, he moved back to the Pittsburgh area, where he was promoted to Executive Director of a private hospital.

After years of working for others, he returned to his retail roots and purchased United Men's Clothing store in Sewickley, PA, which he and his late wife, Lois, ran for almost 20 years. His interest in and support for youth sports, soccer in particular, led them to expand their core business and they grew their business by successfully opening and operating several soccer supply stores in the Pittsburgh area.

Throughout his life, Leo was dedicated to public service. He was a Big Brother in Silver Spring, MD, and a court appointed child advocate with CASA in Pittsburgh. Even as a senior, he continued his work with charities. He and his cherished maltese, Sammy, worked with Wags for Hope, where they visited nursing homes, libraries and schools to bring comfort and joy to young and old alike.

Leo's interests included hiking and other outdoor activities, coaching and refereeing soccer, environmental preservation, social justice and animal rights. His service to others and his deep community involvement earned him the honor of being named 1987's Sewickley's Man of the Year.

He is survived by three children, Linda Baude of Damascus, MD, Janis Light of Frederick, MD, and Ray Moss of Amherst, NH; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his wife, Lois; sister Mildred; and brother Irving.

A memorial service will be held at Country Meadows, 5955 Quinn Orchard Road, Frederick, MD on Wednesday, July 25, at 11 a.m.