Richard "Dick" Sumner Moskow

Born in Boston, he was the son of Goldie Fram and Max J. Moskow. He attended Roxbury Memorial School for Boys, Boston College, and Boston University School of Law. Graduating at age 20, too young to take the Bar Examination, he petitioned the Board of Bar Examiners and they granted him permission to take the examination before his 21st birthday. He joined his father Max's Boston law firm until he entered the Army a year later as a first lieutenant.

After basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he attended the Judge Advocate General School at the University of Virginia. Following graduation, he was posted at Fort Story, Virginia Beach, Virginia, to head the Judge Advocate's office, which called for a Lt. Colonel. He was so successful that he held the temporary assignment for his whole tour, almost three years. Although he was the senior Staff Judge Advocate on post, his attendance at meetings was routinely questioned by high ranking officers. He was an unusual officer, ignoring the conventions of the segregated South and putting the welfare of soldiers first. He caused a stir when he visited soldiers in a Black jail.

Family always came first. After his tour of duty, he returned to Boston and Boston University school of Law for a Masters of Taxation. He was devoted not only to his own family, but was an honorary family member to many clients. They sent him family photos, birth certificates, and wedding invitations. They often sought his advice and he was called the Tax Therapist. Knowing that people are anxious at tax time, he kept an assortment of penny candies on his desk to sweeten their experience.

Richard was an enthusiastic traveler, especially with his wife, Shirley Blotnick Moskow, of nearly 68 years. They traveled to five continents and dozens of islands. No armchair tourists, the intrepid pair explored Machu Piccu, swam in the Dead Sea, canoed the Amazon, petted manta rays in the Bahamas, rode camels in Egypt, elephants in India, and got lost everywhere. They traveled three summers with sons Jeff and Neal touring Western Europe, and later, with each of their grandchildren. Wherever he went, his Boston accent identified him.

In addition to his wife, Richard is survived by his sons Jeff (Laurie) of Lansing, NY; Neal (Tina) of Wellesley, 6 grandchildren: Sarah, Jacob, Sam, Ben, Zach, and Abby; 4 great grandchildren: Lyra, Nolan, Joaquin, and Micah. Richard was predeceased by a son, Eric, and his sister, Nona Glimcher of Mansfield, OH.

In Lieu of flowers, donations in Richard’s memory may be sent to Tufts University Medical Center, Nephrology Department, Att. Daniel Weiner M.D., 32 Kneeland Street, Boston, MA 02111.