Paul Francis Mosher

OBITUARY

Beloved Husband Father Engineer Philanthropist Civic Leader

It is with deep love, and gratitude for a life well lived, that the family of Paul Francis Mosher announces his peaceful passing on June 29, 2026, at the age of 92, surrounded by those who loved him most.

Paul lived an extraordinary life defined by intelligence, humility, generosity, perseverance, and an unwavering devotion to his family, his community, and creating opportunities for others.

Paul was born on September 10, 1933, in Revere, Massachusetts, during the Great Depression. Raised in a family in which hard work was simply a way of life, he learned early that success was earned through determination and persistence.

At just six years old, Paul and his siblings, Carol and Joe, built a newspaper route from the ground up, going door to door until they had nearly 400 customers. Every weekday before dawn, Paul and his siblings delivered newspapers before school. On Sundays, Paul and Carol assembled the bulky weekend editions, and he and his father made their deliveries throughout the neighborhood and then headed to church.

Athletics became another early passion. Paul played one year of varsity hockey until his skates wore out and there was no money to replace them. Undeterred, he spent the next two years as the varsity baseball team’s center fielder, borrowing his younger brother Joe’s Little League glove because he couldn’t afford one of his own.

Paul attended the prestigious Boston Latin School before enrolling at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1951, where he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering. Tuition was $800 per year. A one-time $500 scholarship covered most of the cost, while his father paid the remaining $300. While carrying a full academic course load, Paul worked nearly twenty hours a week in the campus snack bar as well as cleaning dormitories, windows, and restrooms to pay his living expenses. Despite the challenges, Paul later described his years at MIT as “some of the most fabulous years of his life.”

Following graduation, Paul began his career with Shell Chemical in Houston before joining American Latex Fiber in Lawrence, Massachusetts. There he worked under Dom DiMaggio, the legendary Boston Red Sox center fielder turned entrepreneur, advancing through technical, credit management, and sales leadership roles.

When he realized he had reached the highest opportunity available within the company, Paul sent his résumé back to MIT’s placement office. Soon afterward, a recruiter called with an unusual question:

“Would you like to sell seaweed?”

The product was algin, a seaweed derivative produced by Kelco Company. What began as a lunch conversation led to dinner, then dinner with their wives, and ultimately to the opportunity that would define the next three decades of Paul’s career.

Paul joined Kelco and quickly earned the nickname “Moishe,” a term of affection that remained with him throughout his career. Paul played a pivotal role in transforming Kelco into a global enterprise. He completed an international assignment in London from 1981 to 1983 before becoming President of the Kelco Division of Merck & Co. in 1985. During his tenure, international operations grew to represent approximately half of Kelco’s business worldwide.

Though others recognized his remarkable leadership, Paul simply described his success as “getting really lucky,” a characteristically humble assessment of three decades of exceptional achievement.

Paul married Wanda Lou Wood in May 1956. Together they built a loving family making homes in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, and ultimately San Diego, where they settled in Del Cerro in 1977. Wanda passed away in 2009 after more than fifty years of marriage.

In 2014, Paul married Kretia Jene Johnson, a longtime San Diego civic leader. Together they entered one of the most meaningful chapters of his life, dedicating themselves to philanthropy and service.

Paul’s contributions to San Diego led to him receiving the Key to the City of San Diego, a prestigious acknowledgement. Following his retirement in 1993, he joined the Board of Directors of The Parker Foundation, where he served for decades before being named Director Emeritus. He often described his years with the Foundation as “an educational journey in philanthropy.”

Together, Paul and Kretia established The Paul & Kretia Mosher Fund through The Parker Foundation, providing scholarships and educational opportunities for students whose circumstances reminded Paul of his own journey from Revere.

He also served for nearly thirty years as a trustee of the San Diego Museum of Art and was a devoted supporter of Alzheimer’s San Diego, whose mission of helping individuals living with dementia and those who care for them became especially meaningful.

Among Paul’s proudest accomplishments was helping young people pursue a college education. He knew firsthand how a single opportunity could change the course of a life. Through scholarships, mentorship, and countless quiet acts of generosity, he helped remove financial barriers for students who otherwise might never have had the chance. His generosity will continue opening doors for generations to come.

Paul was known as a visionary leader, devoted husband, loving father, loyal friend, and generous mentor. He approached life with curiosity, optimism, determination, and a warm sense of humor that could brighten any room. Yet with all his achievements, nothing meant more to him than the people he loved. He treasured time with family above all else, and believed, to his core, that true success is measured by the lives we touch along the way.

From delivering newspapers as a young boy in Revere to leading an international company and helping generations of students pursue an education, Paul’s life reflected the values he never outgrew – hard work, humility, gratitude, and service. He never forgot where he came from, and he never stopped looking for ways to help someone else move forward.

Paul is survived by his beloved wife, Kretia Mosher; his daughter, Kathryn (Mosher) Parsons; his three grandsons, Mark, Joe, and Willy Parsons; his stepson, Christopher; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Wanda Lou Mosher; and by his sons, Richard, Michael, George, and Peter Mosher.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Alzheimer’s San Diego (alzsd.org), The Parker Foundation (parkerfoundation.org), or The San Diego Museum of Art (sdmart.org).

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, July 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at The San Diego Museum of Art.