Maurice J. Kuritz

On September 11th, 2024, an evening that was almost cinematic in its beauty, with a glorious sunset and a herd of deer gathered just outside his open door, Maurice J. Kuritz departed this world. His son, Greg, devoted caregiver and companion, was by his father's side as Maurice peacefully passed away. 

Maurice, 89, of Fountain Hill, was the son of Elizabeth Hoffman Kuritz and Maurice M. Kuritz, and was married to the late Sophia "Sonya" Check Kuritz for more than sixty years until her death in 2021. 

A stand-out soccer player from a young age, Maurice scored the winning goal for Liberty High School when his team defeated Lehigh University. However, despite his athletic and academic success, Maurice wanted to leave school to join the Coast Guard, but he needed his father's permission to do so. His father agreed, with one condition: His son was not to get a tattoo. Just a few days after his seventeenth birthday Maurice reported for basic training. Maurice thrived aboard the USCG cutters Sebago and Dexter, patrolling the waters from Antarctica to Bermuda during the Korean War. The crew had many responsibilities, including maritime defense, search and rescue, as well as the deployment of weather balloons to gather vital information which was sent to Washington D.C. It was a thrilling adventure for a teenager, one that featured whales, sharks, interesting locations and foods, and plenty of excitement. In fact, Maurice had his first slice of pizza while in the Coast Guard! For those wondering if he kept his promise not to get a tattoo, he did, until liberty in Boston with his buddies was just too tempting. For over seventy years, he was pleased to talk about his service in the Coast Guard and proud to display its official insignia on his left arm.

 Upon his return to Bethlehem, Maurice finished his high school education at Moravian Academy and then studied at Lafayette. With his marvelous dancing abilities and custom-made tuxedo pants and white dinner jacket, he was an in-demand date for formals at area colleges. He met his wife at a dance, and oh, they were lovely to watch when they danced together. Maurice had disdain for people who stayed in one spot; he believed good dancers moved across the floor, so he and Sonya did. 

Maurice spent almost all of his professional life in banking, most notably as the Assistant Treasurer and Branch Manager at the First Valley Bank location across from Martin Tower. A major part of his responsibility was to work closely with Bethlehem Steel executives. He ended his career at the Cathedral Church of The Nativity, where he had been treated with respect and kindness. 

Maurice was a man of many talents, interests, and skills. He was mechanically-inclined and could fix just about anything. For instance, he transformed a 1930's- era Plymouth into an orange dragster named the "Good Grief," complete with painted images of Charlie Brown and Snoopy on the trunk. Maurice and a friend raced the car for several years until it blew up on a local track. He also was an avid fisherman who could build his own equipment. Maurice was a proficient gardener, which led to the bounties of vegetables he and Sonya canned each year. He enjoyed cooking and baking, and was very particular about what he consumed. Maurice had an almost Encyclopedic knowledge of natural, alternative methods for keeping the body healthy and he enjoyed sharing that information to help others. 

Unfortunately, even considerable knowledge about staying healthy cannot keep physical struggles bay forever. But Maurice truly had a serene passing and is now free to be that teenage boy, marveling at the Northern Lights from the deck of a Coast Guard vessel, or to appear as a beautifully dressed young man gliding across the entire dance floor with Sonya again and again.

Maurice J. Kuritz is survived by sons: Greg and wife Mary Ann Ardoline; Ronald and wife Jill; and Maurice Jr. and wife Donna. Sister Marcia Unangst. Grandchildren: Payton Lynch and husband Jonathan; Laken Waterman and husband Tyler; Creeden, Graylon, and Tanner Kuritz. Great-granddaughter Journey Lynch.The family wishes to express its gratitude to Maurice's neighbors on Russell Avenue for the many years of assistance and thoughtfulness. In addition, family members would like to thank the St. Luke's Hospice teams, both in-home and at the Hospice House for their invaluable care.

Services will be held on Saturday September 28th, at Connell Funeral Home at 245 E. Broad Street in Bethlehem. Calling hours begin at 10:00 a.m., with service to follow at 11:00.