Dr. Thomas Vincent Moser, resident of Bedford NH and orthopedic surgeon, died of heart failure while skiing at Waterville Valley on Jan 23. He was 55.
Dr. Moser was born on Sept. 25, 1949 in New York City, son of Dr. August Moser, a pediatrician, and Elisabeth Schrafft Moser. He grew up in Englewood, NJ and Palm Beach, Florida. He graduated with high honors from the University of Texas at Austin in 1972. After studying medicine at Lille University in France, he received his MD from the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in 1978. His internship requirements were fulfilled at Boston City Hospital, and residencies in orthopedics were completed at the Catholic Medical Center in Jamaica, New York and at the Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia during 1983-87. From 1987- 1988, he was awarded and completed an
Arthroscopic Fellowship at the Washington (D.C.) Orthopedic Clinic. In 1989, he started a sports medicine and knee surgery practice in Bedford, NH. Dr. Moser was affiliated with Catholic Medical Center in Manchester and was one of the founders of the Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center. A member of the CMC board, he was also active in a wide range of research and medical education programs.
Dr. Moser was an exceptional and versatile athlete. A Florida all-state football selection at fullback from Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Florida, Dr. Moser went on to play football at Brown University and then discovered rugby at the University of Texas. He ultimately became a top level rugby player, playing against major club teams while on international tours in the England, Ireland and France. He played for rugby teams in Lille, Philadelphia, Boston, Louisiana Exiles, Old Blue/NYC and Washington, D.C. He was selected for the Eastern Rugby Union All Star Team, the New England Select Side and was captain of the Boston Rugby Club from 1981-82. From 1988-94, he played for US Masters XV competing in the Bermuda World Rugby Classic Tournament. In addition to rugby, Dr. Moser had a passionate interest in skiing and cycling. He was also an avid traveler with a deep interest in classical history and world cultures. In 1973 he and his twin brother Stephen drove a VW van from Germany through the Balkans, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Burma, and Thailand. The yearlong journey was concluded on the island of Bali, Indonesia.
Dr. Moser is survived by his wife of twenty-one years, Christine (Downey) Moser of Bedford; three beloved daughters, Alexandra, Anna, and Sophia, all of Bedford; ten siblings, George, Johann, Peter, Christian, Robert, Maria (Ghoneim), Stephen, Timothy, Patrice (Morrison), and August; along with many nephews and nieces.
A memorial mass was held at the St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Bedford, NH on Wednesday January 26,2005.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Trans-NH/MDA, P.O. Box 276, Salem, NH 03079. Lambert Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.