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Obituary for Morris "Morry" M. Wasserman
A longtime Vacaville businessman and a decorated Air Force veteran passed away this week.
Morris Wasserman died Tuesday night surrounded by family. He was 96 years old.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years Betty, sons Gary and Wayne, daughter Wendy Kellogg, son-in-law Jim Kellogg, grandson Logan Kellogg and his wife Grace.
He is also survived by his daughter-in-law Debbie Wasserman, grandchildren Rebecca Kellogg, Megan Wasserman, Ben Wasserman and Max Wasserman as well as many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
“He was a man with heart and integrity,” Wendy Kellogg said. “He loved his family and he loved his grandchildren.”
She and her husband continue to run the family business — Wasserman Travel on Merchant Street — that she and her parents opened in 1978.
Wasserman was born in 1921 in Los Angeles.
When he was 13, his father died and he had to provide for his mother and two sisters.
He joined the Air Force and became a B-17 bomber pilot during World War II. He flew 36 missions, his last on Nov. 2, 1944, when he was shot down over Nazi Germany.
He also flew in the Berlin Airlift, led a squadron during the Cuban Missile Crisis and commanded several flight squadrons.
He earned a Distinguished Flying Cross, a Purple Heart, four air medals, a European Theater medal and six battle stars.
“We heard all kinds of great stories not only of his military life but also his fun stories,” Wendy said. “He was a fun guy and a prankster too when he wasn’t being serious.”
It was after he was shot down in England that he came home and was reacquainted with Betty. They met once as children, and they married when she was 18 and he was 23.
They had an interesting life, Betty said, living on military bases in parts of France and Germany for a time.
In 1957, Wasserman was stationed and the family moved to Vacaville, a choice he made because he knew he wanted to retire here and make this his home, Wendy said.
All three of the Wasserman children started kindergarten in Vacaville and went up through the high school.
After he retired from Travis Air Force Base with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1964, Wasserman started Pacific Pipeline Survey, which he later sold.
Then he broke into the travel industry, becoming the vice president and general manager for E & J Travel out of Travis Air Force Base.
In 1978, Morris, Betty and Wendy started Wasserman Travel. Jim Kellogg joined in 1982.
Wasserman ran the business until he retired about 11 years ago. They have become a travel agency that has not only local clients but also clients from all over the country.
“We all did different things but we were a team,” Wendy said.
Many families who run businesses together have feuds, she said, but they have always had fun.
“It’s been an amazing ride,” she said.
Her dad had several “Morry-isms,” as Wendy called them, one being “decency, integrity and delicatessen,” the last fun word thrown in so his kids and grandkids would remember the other two.
He would be generous and make donations, Wendy said, and if he owed someone even a penny, he would find them to pay them back.
“He was always humble,” she said. “He didn’t want anyone to make a fuss over him.”
“That’s just the way he raised his family,” Betty said.
They were a military family, but they also had a fun side.
“He had a great sense of humor,” Betty said.
Her husband also was persistent in his goals and worked hard.
“He just had that kind of a brain and a directness,” Betty said.
Wasserman also was an active member and a past president of the Vacaville Rotary Club.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Play 4 All Park, which the Rotary has been working on for about four years. The seven-acre park, planned for a subdivision in southeast Vacaville, will have play areas that accommodate children with special needs.
Checks may be mailed to Play 4 All Park, Inc., C/O Phillippi Engineering, 425 Merchant St. Suite 200, Vacaville, CA 95688.
For more information or to donate online, visit www.play4allvacaville.org.
