Maurice Kalfus was born on August 19th, 1925 in The Bronx, New York to his proud parents Rose and Max Kalfus. Maurice, fondly known as Murry, grew up with two younger brothers, Jonas and Alfred in a patriotic family. Murry always had a love for the sea. By the age of thirteen, he joined the Sea Scouts and his troop was called ‘Pearl Harbor.’ A few years later, everyone knew of Pearl Harbor due to the surprise attack on Hawaii in 1941 that pulled America into WWII. Murry eventually convinced his father, a WWI combat veteran, to leave high school and join the Navy at the age of seventeen. By his twenty-first birthday, the war ended in victory and Murry returned home as a decorated combat veteran who landed on the beaches of Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Saipan & Tinian Islands, and the Kwajalein Atoll. He was sworn in as an honorary Marine. After taking a year off to “de-accelerate,” he went back to finish high school and then onto college where he graduated as an Artist. At the age of twenty-five, he met the love of his life, Diane, in a chance meeting on a New York subway. They married six months later and remained inseparable for nearly 67 years. After having their first two children, Adrien and Paul, in N.Y., Murry wanted to move his family to a place that had more space, more sunlight, and more opportunity - Southern California, where they had their third child, Arthur, in Santa Monica, CA. In 1962, they bought their forever home in Los Alamitos, CA. There, they raised their three children along with their dog ‘Tiger,’ and a duck named Beverly. Murry was a devoted son, brother, husband, father to three children, father-in-law, grandfather to eight grandchildren, and great grandfather to eight. Murry was a good friend to his neighbors in Los Alamitos but nothing meant more to him than his family. He was steadfast and was always there to provide “back-up” when you needed him. Not a single day went by where he didn’t honor all the men who never came home from battle. He loved fresh produce and was a pioneer in the mixing, packaging, and marketing of dried fruits and nuts. Today, everyone knows this as Trail-Mix. Between ‘Nuts-n-Stuff’ and ‘M&D Produce,’ these portable snacks that Murry pioneered forever changed the way people eat on the go. Murry was also the Vice-President of Kalfus Steel, West Coast division, and played an important role in the American Steel Industry. With his love of the sea, he bought a sailboat and named it Hallelujah. He also taught courses in both navigation and seamanship as a Lieutenant in the Long Beach Power Squadron. Captain Murry always had his First Mate Diane with him by his side on both land and sea where they sailed around the Long Beach harbors, Newport Beach, and to Catalina Island. For over 30 years, he and Diane traveled together to England, France, Italy, Russia, and other unique places around the world. Both had a love for learning about Art and history. He was a talented Artist who used multiple mediums to include oil, watercolor, pastel, and graphite. His Art was often displayed in colleges throughout Long Beach. He had a particular love for painting and drawing pictures of couples who were romantically embraced and happy. Murry loved to talk and give advice. And he had a contagious laugh. He was steadfast and to the point. Just shy of 99 years, he had an amazing life and has left an everlasting mark on all of those who knew him. You are our family hero. We will always carry your memory in our hearts
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