Joseph Moskaitis - Obituary

oseph B. Moskaitis died Tuesday in hospice care at Bon Secours Hospital in Richmond, VA. He was born in Duryea, PA to Julius and Katherine [Pelvelis] Moskaitis, Lithuanian immigrants. He graduated #1 in his Duryea High School class and served in the U.S. Army during WW II. As service to his country ended, he married Stella Kojtek who predeceased him on 3/25/1989 after 45 years of marriage. Joseph and Stella moved to Washington, D.C. and eventually settled in Forestville, Maryland where they maintained a home, raised a family of 4 sons and 1 daughter and resided there until their deaths. He was a proud member of the U.S. Park Police retiring after 26 years of service rising to the rank of Captain. After 18 years of patrolling the Suitland Parkway [never missing work or being late], he assumed various leadership roles including the Civil Defense Unit during the tumultuous decade of the 1960s. The lasting memory of Joseph B. Moskaitis and his ethos of Duty can be seen every Martin Luther King holiday. Unfailingly, a grainy black & white video is shown commemorating the Lincoln Memorial rally on August 28, 1963. Dr. King's 'I Have A Dream' speech starts with a tight close-up then widens to include those surrounding Dr. King. Captain Moskaitis is clearly visible fulfilling his responsibility to protect Dr. King and maintain order. Joseph B. Moskaitis lived a life of Duty and Service - to his parents, to his country, to his family and to his community. He was a devout Catholic attending daily Mass. He will be remembered gratefully. He was predeceased by parents and all siblings: John, Daniel, Leonard and Anna. He is survived by five children: Joseph, Robert, Michael, Susan and John. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Joseph B. Moskaitis was the embodiment of The Greatest Generation and leaves behind a legacy of service and duty which lives on through his survivors. Joseph and Stella - Dad and Mom, Grandpa Joe and Grandma - will always be in our prayers.