Morris Joseph Einhorn

Buzz was born in Tarrytown, NY on September 16, 1923. Buzz graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in Elmsford, NY in June of 1942 where he was a member of the track, football, and basketball teams and was described in his senior yearbook as “A live wire in athletics”. Buzz was also selected by his H.S. classmates as the “Boy with Best Build”. During high school Buzz also caddied for golfers at the Westchester County Country Club to earn money for golf lessons – leading to his lifelong love of golf, which he continued to play up until the time of the Covid-19 virus shutdown. Buzz won numerous awards during tournaments at his local golf clubs and consistently scored under his age for the past twenty years.

Buzz was also an avid bowler, and he and Marilyn loved to roller skate, square dance and play pinnacle with friends and family.

During high school Buzz played percussion in the band and orchestra, sung in the Boys’ Glee Club and was a cast member in three school plays. Buzz became an Eagle Scout in high school and would later volunteer as a Scout Master for his sons’ troop while stationed at Chateauroux Air Station, France.

Probably most importantly though, Buzz met the love of his life in high school, Marilyn Senkbeil. While on leave from the Navy, Buzz and Marilyn were married on April 8, 1944 in the Dutch Reformed Church, Elmsford, NY and together raised their 2 sons, Morris Joseph Jr., and Karl.

Buzz enlisted in the Navy on July 4, 1942, as soon as he was eligible to join. After attending boot camp in Newport, RI he was assigned to the USS Santee in Norfolk, VA in December 1942 where he saw action in the north Atlantic. In January 1944 he was transferred to the USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) as a Radioman 2nd class where he assisted in training radio operators while it was being built in Newport News, VA. After commissioning, the Ticonderoga was deployed to the west Pacific where it would later come under attack from Japanese kamikaze fighters on January 21, 1945. While running across the flight deck to his General Quarters station, Buzz managed to escape harm from overhead gunfire and a bomber that crashed into the forward elevator by diving under a SB2C dive bomber parked on the flight deck. After the attack was over Buzz learned his best friend had been killed in the attack. At the end of the war the ship returned to Norfolk, VA and Buzz was discharged from the Navy as a Radioman 1st class in October 1945. Buzz returned to Elmsford, NY where he worked in the tree trimming business for 3 years. Buzz would later get to relive aircraft carrier life in 1979 when he joined his son Morris Jr. for a week aboard the USS Forrestal (CV-59), which was returning from a deployment.

When Buzz heard about the formation of the US Air Force (USAF) he decided that was where he wanted to continue his service career and enlisted as a staff sergeant, communications specialist in March 1948. Buzz began his USAF career at the Communications Center at Dow Field, Maine, followed by assignments at Clarksville Air Force Base (AFB), TN, Kirkland AFB, NM, Stoney brook AFB, MA, the Pentagon, K-2 and K-55 in Korea, Langley AFB, VA, Chateauroux Air Station, France, and finally Scott AFB, Illinois where he retired in 1964 as a Chief Master Sergeant. Being a true military family, Marilyn, sons Morris Jr. and Karl, and his mother-in-law joined him at all his duty stations, except Korea.

After leaving his military service career, Buzz joined the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) working in Washington, DC as a communications specialist. While living in the Northern Virginia area Buzz and Marilyn built 3 homes, often doing a good deal of the work on their own. Having developed a love of planes while in the Air Force, Buzz earned his private pilot license while living in VA where he eventually bought a Cherokee airplane that he loved to fly.

After Buzz retired from the FAA IN 1979, he and Marilyn sold their home in Middelburg, VA, loaded their 6 cats and numerous houseplants in a rented RV, and drove to Satellite Beach, FL in search of year round golf weather and a new place to start the next chapter of their life. Buzz and Marilyn built their first home in Brevard County on Tortoise Island, where they lived for 4 years and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. In 1987 they built a home in Viera where they lived until moving to the Brennity in 2013 after Marilyn was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. After Buzz and Marilyn moved to Viera they joined the Faith Viera Lutheran Church where Buzz became the championship pitcher for the church softball league -- even at 84, he could zing the ball in there and was also one of the best hitters.

Once Buzz was settled in the Brennity, he was quick to develop a set of resident golfing buddies to tap for a foursome for his weekly golf outings. Buzz also eagerly participated in the Senior Games events held every year at the Brennity where he won numerous awards.

Buzz was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 73 years, Marilyn, youngest son Karl, sister Blanche Schutjer, and grandson Michael.

Buzz is survived by sister Shirley Conway, son Morris Jr., three grandchildren Mark, Barbara Brown, and Ericka Kendall, six great grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

Morris wishes to thank Dr. Rodney Beasley and all the staff at Viera Hospital who took care of his Dad during his final days and Dr. Craig Snow, Buzz’s primary care physician for the wonderful care he provided throughout the years.

Morris would also like to thank the staff of the Brennity at Melbourne for providing a comfortable and friendly community for Buzz to call home during the last years of his life.

Morris wants to especially thank Pastor Ron Meyr of the Faith Viera Lutheran Church for the inspiration, counseling, and comfort he provided his Dad and for being a faithful friend Buzz could turn to in both good times and bad.

Buzz will be interned at the National Memorial Park in Falls Church, VA on October 16, 2020 at 1:00 PM. Details for a memorial service for Buzz will be announced later.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to one of Buzz’s many favorite charities: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or the American Wild Horse Campaign (AWHC).

Online condolences can be made at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/rockledge-fl