Joseph Morris Most

Joseph Morris Most (“Joe”) died peacefully at home in Raleigh, NC, on January 27th, 2026, at the age of 82. He spent his last weeks surrounded by family.

Before moving to Raleigh, Joe was a chemistry professor in New Jersey, first at Upsala College for 20 years, and then at Bloomfield College for 17 years. His warmth, generosity, and knack for explaining complex ideas made him a beloved teacher. As almost any high school or college student can attest, chemistry is a daunting subject, but Joe inspired his students to conquer their fear. In fact, many students would later reestablish contact with “Professor Most” to let him know what a positive impact he’d had on their confidence, even years after graduating — a moving affirmation of the meaning Joe sought in his teaching. Over his 20 years at Upsala, he rose to become the department chair. The pomp and circumstance of graduations were particularly exciting for his kids, who watched their dad lead the procession each year, clad in his scarlet academic gown.

Joe was born in the Bronx, NY, to Emmanuel and Helen Most. In high school, he moved to Lakewood, NJ, where he shared his youth with his younger brother, Paul.

During those early years, he developed a love for science and photography, and his infectious humor led a classmate to write in his yearbook that he was, indeed, “the wackiest member of the library guild”. After graduating from Lakewood High School (class of 1960), he earned both his undergraduate degree (1964) and doctorate in chemistry (1974) from Rutgers University.

It was at Rutgers that Joe’s lack of a car brought him into the orbit of the beautiful Shelly Stulzaft, who attended Rutgers’ sister school, Douglass College. She, too, was from Lakewood and offered him a ride back to school after a winter’s break. The two fell in love, and they married when Shelly graduated in 1965, proving an exception to the otherwise sage rule to not accept rides from strangers. Just this past December 26th, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary!

Joe and Shelly traveled Europe early in their marriage, attended costume parties dressed as Laurel and Hardy, and created many shared memories. In 1972, they welcomed their son, Steven, and two years later, their daughter, Sharon. Vacations that live in the family’s collective memories include trips to Cape Cod, Maine, Disney World, Québec, Israel, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, and trips with grandchildren to Wrightsville Beach, San Francisco, and a rustic farmhouse in Virginia.

Joe was an active member of Congregation Shomrei Emunah in Montclair, NJ, and he enjoyed woodworking projects and amateur photography in his basement workshop. However, nothing made him happier than being a Dad and Grandpa to his two children and four grandchildren. Joe was a master of funny faces, inventor of silly songs, and maestro of epic birthday parties. His love of singing will stay with us all — he even graced us with rousing renditions of the songs of the Bee Gees for hours the evening of our last family dinner.

He will be missed terribly by all who knew him, but his light, humor, love, and songs will live on in our memories and will always make us smile.

Joe is survived by his loving wife, Shelly Most, his son Steven Most (Kim) and daughter Sharon Moe (Eric), and grandchildren Abby, Thomas, Ella, and Anna.

Shiva services will be held at Shelly’s apartment at the Cardinal at North Hills in Raleigh, NC, at 6:30 on Saturday, January 31, and 7:30 Sunday-Tuesday.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joe’s memory to Transitions LifeCare (www.transitionslifecare.org/donate/).

A graveside service will be held at Raleigh Memorial Park, located at 7501 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC, 27612, United States. The service is scheduled for January 30, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.