Maurice David Mussafer

Born on April 22, 1938, to David and Clara Mussafer, Maurice David Mussafer, passed away on March 6, 2025. Over his eighty-six years, Maurice created an extraordinary life and passed on his secret to a happy life: having “someone to love, something to do and something to look forward to.”

Maurice grew up in Montgomery, Alabama and graduated from Tulane University in 1960. There he met and fell in love with a magnetic beauty, Peggy Marks whom he married that same year and proudly brought her home, saying he felt like Moses, “taking her from the wilderness of Brownsville, Tennessee to the Promised Land of Montgomery.”

It was at Tulane that Maurice’s close friends began to call him, “Mo,” an endearing moniker that eventually eclipsed his given name. Encouraging Peggy to use the name, he said, “I like the ease of ‘Mo,” evidence of his winsome congeniality and lifelong wish to put people at ease.

About obituaries, Maurice once remarked, “I want mine to say, ’Mo’s dead, Cadillac for sale,’” reflecting how he took other people, especially family and friends, more seriously than he did himself and who understood the value of a good sense of humor and laughter. He leavened people’s spirits, by being Mo and MoMo to his grandchildren.

Maurice was twenty-eight when his father died, leaving him heir to cherished principles his father imparted to him and that he, in turn, handed down to his children to pass to future generations. Generous of spirit, Maurice quickly stepped into the role of protector of his siblings and mother and perfected this propensity with Peggy and their family, friends and colleagues.

Whether calling or visiting his siblings daily throughout their adult life, teaching his daughter, Julie and son, David, about business, supporting civic organizations, hosting fabulous parties that featured a piano player and dancing or, playing pool nightly with his children, remaining close to friends from all walks of life or giving people a reason to laugh with his oft-told jokes, Maurice made the world feel more secure, fascinating and joyful.

Maurice emulated his father’s dictum and example to be “somebody that others can depend on.” A man of consummate integrity, he shunned blurry boundaries. Honest, honorable and ethical, he expected others to conduct themselves in the same upstanding way.

Upon returning from college to Montgomery, Maurice proved to be a visionary entrepreneur, creating Capital Wholesale, which preceded Sam’s Club and Costco by decades as a membership club entitling card holders to discounts on a variety of products, including fine watches and jewelry.

As the business flourished, Maurice moved and enlarged his store to Capitol Plaza on the Southeast Boulevard. Later, Capital Wholesale merged with H.J. Wilson’s and then with Service Merchandise. In 1972, the business went public succeeding as a growth stock.

After Maurice sold the business, he enrolled at AUM for two years, particularly savoring advanced mathematics and planning his next venture, becoming an investment advisor with Morgan Keegan. An astute investor, Maurice did not invest any clients’ money in stocks he had not purchased for himself. Maurice was a silent partner with his brother, Joe, in Montgomery Beverage Company.

As a child, Maurice developed a love of classical music from his father. Their family listened every Saturday to “The Firestone Hour.” At Tulane, Maurice enrolled in courses on operas and symphonies, believing they would be easy, only to discover that they were the most difficult classes he had ever taken. They were also the most enjoyable and generated a lifelong love of music. Maurice transformed his love of music into a resounding gift to Montgomery with his longstanding service on the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra Board and as its President.

One of his most gratifying accomplishments was guiding and supporting the MSO to perform Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, also known as the Choral Symphony, considered to be the most challenging of Beethoven’s symphonies for its innovative inclusion of a choir and soloists.

Maurice also served in the Air National Guard and on the boards of Temple Beth Or, the Family Guidance Center, the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce and the Standard Club. He was President of the Jewish Federation of Montgomery and was a lifetime member of the Montgomery Symphony Board.

Maurice was preceded in death by his parents, Clara and David Mussafer. He is survived by his wife, Peggy and their children, David Mussafer (Marion) and Julie Mussafer (William Andrews); six grandchildren: Michael David Mussafer (Meghan Murphy Mussafer); Sophie Mussafer Griffin (Michael Patrick Griffin); Olivia Jane Mussafer; Bridget Magill Mussafer; Ella Madeline Andrews and Emilie Ann Andrews; and two great grandchildren: Gracie Jane Griffin and Sadie Mae Griffin; brother, Joe (Charlotte) Mussafer; sister, Gracie (Jack Hanchrow), nieces and nephews and friends too numerous to count and each one cherished. The Mussafer Family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to Mo’s caregivers.

Memorial contributions may be made, in lieu of flowers, to the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, the Heart of Alabama Food Bank or one’s own favorite charity.

Visitation will be on Sunday, March 9th at 10:00 AM at Temple Beth Or, 2246 Narrow Lane Road followed by a memorial service at 11:00 AM.