Obituary | Alan Moskin: Soldier, Liberator, Lawyer, Educator

from the Holocaust Museum & Center for Tolerance and Education

lan Moskin, a World War II infantry soldier who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and spent decades educating people on the Nazi Holocaust and his experiences, died peacefully on April 15, 2023, in Charleston, South Carolina.

His death on Saturday during Yom HaShoah, the international Holocaust Remembrance memorial ceremonies, seems preordained. He was 96.

Moskin was born in Englewood, New Jersey on May 30, 1926. He attended Syracuse University both before and after his military service in World War II and graduated in May 1948. He then attended New York University Law School, graduating with a J.D. degree in June 1951. He practiced law as a civil trial attorney in New Jersey for over 20 years and subsequently worked in the private business sector until he retired in 1991.

Alan was drafted into the military service at the age of 18 and served in the United States Army during World War II from September 1944 until August 1946. He was a member of the 66th infantry, 71st Division, part of General George Patton's 3rd Army. Alan's outfit fought in combat through France, Germany and Austria during which time he was promoted in rank from Private to Staff Sergeant.

On May 4, 1945, his Company participated in the liberation of the Gunskirchen Concentration Camp, a subcamp of Mauthausen. After the war ended, Alan continued to serve in Germany until June 1946 as a member of the U.S. Army of Occupation. He also attended the Nuremberg Trials.

In 1985 Alan began sharing his experiences in WWII, and only his death stopped him from talking about the Holocaust and preaching against inhumanity and for people to stay vigilant.

He has done video recordings at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City, for USC Shoah Foundation, and at the Holocaust Museum & Center for Tolerance and Education in Rockland County, New York. He has also participated in programs at the United States Military Academy, at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, at the National WWII Museum, at the German International School in White Plains, on Russian and Spanish television, on the CBS radio network and on the documentaries "The Jewish Americans" and "G.I. Jews," both on the PBS television network, in addition to "Liberation Heroes: The Last Eyewitnesses" for USC Shoah Foundation and Discovery Network. Alan Moskin is also known for The Jewish Americans (2008), I Danced for the Angel of Death - The Dr. Edith Eva Eger Story (2021) and 60 Minutes (2018). He has been profiled in Time Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, New Orleans Magazine, and innumerable other publications.

Alan has served as a Vice President on the Board of Trustees of the Holocaust Museum and Center for Tolerance and Education. He is also a past Commander of the Rockland / Orange District Council of the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. In addition, in 2014 Alan was inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame and the following year he was elected by the Veterans Coordinating Council in Rockland County, N.Y. to be the "2016 Veteran of the Year."

Alan is survived by his daughter Jacqueline Moskin Corcoran and her husband Hugh, daughter Lisa Moskin, grandchildren: Rory Corcoran, Conor Corcoran, Molly Corcoran, Brody Tonon, Chase Tonon, Trevor Tonon, Cole Tonon, and former wife Christa Moskin.

In accordance with Alan's wishes, in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the following organizations close to his heart:

• The Holocaust Museum and Center for Tolerance and Education, 145 College Road, Suffern, NY 10901
• Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America, 1811 R Street NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20009
• Barnabas Medical Foundation, Benefiting the Neonatal ICU, 94 Old Short Hills Road, Livingston, NJ 07039

Services will be held Wednesday April 19, beginning at 10 am, at the New City Jewish Center 47 Old Schoolhouse Road, New City, NY 10956. For those unable to attend in person, services will also be streamed online.

Burial with military honors will follow at the Frederick W Loescher Veterans Memorial Cemetery 220 Brick Church Rd, Spring Valley, NY 10977.

A post funeral reception will be held at The Holocaust Museum and Center for Tolerance and Education, 145 College Road, Suffern, NY 10901.

SEE ALSO:

• Concentration Camp Liberator Speaks Of Horrors {VIDEO}
• Legislators Unite WWII Soldier With Concentration Camp Survivor