Jesse Albert Mould
Jesse Albert Mould of Orient, known as “Al” to his family and friends, died April 27 at the age of 97. He was born in Locust Valley, Dec. 10, 1917, son of Jesse Hayes Mould and Lillian Weir Mould.
Al was predeceased by his three children, John, Barbara, and Joyce, and his wife of 57 years, Ruth Kidney. His two grandchildren, Bill Ries of Hillsborough, N.J. and Barbara Ries, of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, and five great-grandchildren survive him. He also leaves behind his fiance, Mary Jane Lippert, her family, and many friends and colleagues.
Al attended Locust Valley Schools, and graduated from Glen Cove High School in 1936. He graduated from Union College in 1940, was an enthusiastic supporter of the institution throughout his life, and attended his 70th reunion at Union College in 2010. In 1941, Al became a teacher in Port Washington, where he taught physics and biology, and also met and married his wife Ruth, the school nurse.
Al joined the army as a private in the infantry, was then commissioned as a lieutenant, and served the balance of World War II in the First Cavalry Division. He spent four years in the Pacific, participating in landings and fighting in New Guinea, the Admiralty Islands, Leyte, and Luzon. He received decorations and citations including the Bronze Star with oak leaf clusters, the American Campaign medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal with four combat stars and bronze arrowhead, the World War II Victory medal, and the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque with two stars. He separated from the service as a major and special staff officer to the commanding general, and happily returned to his wife.
Al acquired his master’s degree from Columbia University with the help of the G.I. Bill and initially taught at Port Washington High School. He then spent some time in the business world, but returned to teach at Mattituck High School, and from then on, his life was devoted to education on Long Island. Al taught physics, biology, and chemistry in Mattituck and Glen Cove. He was assistant principal in Uniondale, and principal at Locust Valley. His career culminated as founding principal of Commack South High School, where he oversaw planning, development, and hiring from the ground up.
Al retired in 1976 – but with gusto. He and Ruth settled in the delightful village of Orient on the eastern end of Long Island, in a house with a picket fence, built circa 1840. They boated, worked in the local Oysterponds historical society, and happily hunted for antiques, traveling throughout New England and Canada, attending shows and auctions and running a small antique business.
After the passing of his beloved wife Ruth in 1999, Al had the good fortune to reconnect with longtime friend Mary Jane Lippert. Their feelings grew, and they became engaged. Mary Jane was his constant and doting companion, loved by his family and friends. All throughout, he was an active, informed, and involved citizen, and a caring father and grandfather.
Al’s love of life, generosity, kindness, tolerance, and humor will be remembered by family and friends at a service at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Southold at 9:30 a.m. Friday, May 22. This will be followed by a committal service at Calverton National Cemetery, and thereafter he will be laid to rest, joining his wife Ruth.
