J. DAVIDSON MOSS ’68

Davidson Moss ’68 

I am sorry to inform the Wesleyan community of the passing of Dave Moss ’68, Gamma Psi, from a heart attack on December 28, 2015.

Dave completed his first two years at Wesleyan, after which he was drafted into the Army.  He served as a medic with the First Cavalry Division in combat actions in Vietnam including the Tet Offensive.  Known as “Doc” Moss, he provided initial treatment of wounded soldiers and started a medical program for Vietnamese villagers as part of his service.

Dave returned to Wesleyan in 1968, but moved to Oregon without completing his degree — a move he later attributed to a reaction to his recent combat experience.  He subsequently received a BA and MA in history from the University of Oregon.  His career included staff work in the Oregon State Legislature, chief of staff for the Oregon Speaker of the House, work for the Associated Industries of Oregon, and the renovation of dilapidated properties into rental houses for modest-income persons.

Dave was a leader in his community as a city councilor in Salem, Oregon and was appointed by the Governor to serve as chairman of the State Ethics Commission.  He was known for speaking his opinions on important public issues regardless of their popularity, including support of gay rights as a councilman in the early 1990’s during a period of opposition for such measures.  He was an active volunteer and served on several charitable boards, including the Willamette Valley Hospice where he initiated an endowment fund, now named in his honor.  Upon his passing, the Governor of Oregon issued a condolence letter citing, among other things, his significant community service.

Dave was an active skier, whitewater rafter, sailor, carpenter, and historian.  As part of his personal research, he developed a paper titled “The Myth of the Vietnam Veteran,” which used social statistics to contradict the Hollywood image of the veteran as a drug-using, homeless, poorly-educated, suicidal loser.  He presented this paper to numerous civic organizations, along with a paper on post-traumatic stress syndrome which he believed was an actual condition, but with more subtle effects than were popularly attributed to it.

Dave leaves his wife, Patricia Graves Moss MAT ’70, daughter, Kathryn Reynolds and her husband Cody, sisters, Helen Ogden and Vikki Guy, along with numerous family, friends, and a community which he served.  He stood up for things that he believed in regardless of public opinion and was respected by all, including political and business persons of different philosophies, for his critical thinking and honest opinions.

Sincerely, Robert Pease ’69