By Patrick George
Austin American-Statesman
AUSTIN, Texas — Dr. James Moritz, who for 26 years provided aid and comfort to the families of fallen police officers and emergency workers, died Tuesday morning. He was 86 .
Moritz was an Austin orthodontist better known as founder of the 100 Club of Central Texas , which gives financial and emotional support to law enforcement and rescue workers injured in the line of duty.
His organization, started in 1983 , has helped hundreds of people affected by the loss of public safety workers to what Terry Donovan described as “horrific circumstances.”
“The 100 Club was there at the right time,” said Donovan, whose wife, Amy, was an Austin Police Department officer killed in 2004 when she was run over by her partner during a pursuit. “They gave me time not to worry, to focus on our 2-year-old son.”
Moritz was born in Port Arthur in 1923 and studied dentistry at the University of Texas Dental Branch in Houston. He moved to Austin in 1967 and was active in numerous charitable causes.
In 1983, he founded the 100 Club of Austin, inspired by a friend in Houston who was involved with the group there. It later expanded to Hays, Bastrop, Williamson and Caldwell counties. The group donated protective equipment to departments that couldn’t afford it and advocated on behalf of families whose loved ones died serving their communities.
“It was his Christian heart” that motivated him, said his son Allan Moritz . “He grew up in the Depression and always wanted to help people.”
Bernadette Ruiz said she’s grateful for the work Moritz started. The 100 Club helped pay for the funeral of her husband, Keith, a Travis County Sheriff’s deputy killed in 2001, she said.
“I truly believe in what they’ve done for me " and for all the others in this area,” she said. She said the club sends Christmas cards to its members and plans outings for kids of slain emergency workers.
“They don’t forget about us,” she said.
“Very few people stood out the way Dr. Moritz did,” Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said. “He touched so many lives, I don’t think he’ll ever be forgotten.” Funeral services will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1500 Anderson Lane , on Friday at 10 a.m.
Copyright 2009 Austin American-Statesman
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