Herman Moses, 81, a former assistant Chicago corporation counsel who also served in the top post of a Jewish war veterans group, died of respiratory failure Saturday, Jan. 20, in Palm Springs, Calif. A longtime lawyer who graduated from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1942, Mr. Moses served as president of the South Chicago Bar Association in the early 1970s. Mr. Moses, who served in the Navy in the South Pacific and China during World War II, was an active member of Jewish War Veterans, USA for more than 50 years. “That was his life. He believed in what they were doing,” said his son, John. “He dedicated a great part of his professional life to helping that organization grow.” Mr. Moses served as Illinois commander in 1966 and as national commander in 1977. While serving as national commander, Mr. Moses helped organize a counter-demonstration to a neo-Nazi march in Skokie. “He had been very vocal in trying to stop them and he was a staunch advocate for nonviolence,” said cousin Jerry Field. Mr. Moses was an assistant corporation counsel for the city for 10 years in the 1960s and 1970s, overseeing prosecutions for building code and zoning violations. He later oversaw city trade licenses and building permits from 1980 to 1983.”He always dealt with a very fair hand,” his cousin said. Mr. Moses moved to Cathedral City, Calif., in 1984 after retiring from his law practice. He is survived by another son, Michael; two daughters, Marcialea Rittenberg and Esther Gassel; a brother, Norman; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in Weinstein Family Services Wilmette Chapel, 111 N. Skokie Blvd., Wilmette.
