Simon Charles Moss

Simon was born and raised in Woodmere, NY to Leonard and Evelyn Moss. He is survived by his former wife Margaret Benedict Moss; his sons Alexander, Nathaniel and Jacob, daughters-in-law Margaret, Rebecca, and Jennifer; his grandchildren Abigail, Leila, Nina, Isaac, and Jessie; and his sister May Abeloff, her husband Fred, son Victor, and daughter-in-law Mona. Another son, Benjamin, passed away in 2001.

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Simon was a loving father and adored his grandchildren. Known affectionately to his grandchildren as "Pimon," it is perhaps fitting that he passed away on "Pi" day, 3.14. He attended Woodmere Academy and earned his doctorate in metallurgy at MIT. He was Professor of Physics emeritus at the University of Houston, where he served on the faculty for over 30 years. He made enormous contributions to materials science, mentored many successful students and researchers, and was widely recognized for his work, including with the Materials Research Society's Von Hippel Award and the Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society's William Hume-Rothery Memorial Award. He was an avid art collector and a lover of the ballet, classical music, opera, poetry and tennis. His dry wit and his appreciation of puns (good and bad) and all things Gilbert & Sullivan will be missed.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, March 19, 2011, at the chapel of Levy Funeral Directors, 4525 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77401. Tel: 713/660-6633.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to support post-polio research and rehabilitation to TIRR Memorial Hermann (TIRR), http://www.memorialhermann.org/locations/tirr/.