Jules Gilbert Moritz
June 22, 1941-May 19, 2012
Gilroy, California

Jules Gilbert Moritz, Jr., passed away peacefully at his home in Gilroy, Calif., on May 19, 2012. He was surrounded by his loving family. Jules Jr. was born to Jules Gilbert and Phyllis Ruth (Baer) Moritz in New York City, N.Y., on June 22, 1941. His only sibling, Carol Ellen, was born two years later.

Jules Jr. graduated with straight A's from Washington High School in Fremont, Calif. He continued his education at Stanford University where he enrolled in the mechanical engineering program and graduated in 1964, with his engineering degree. Jules Jr's. only child, Jules Gilbert Moritz, III was born in 1963.

After college, Jules Jr., landed a job at Microform Data Systems. That job began a 40+ year career designing data storage manufacturing equipment for many companies (including Adelphi, Quantum and Western Digital) in what would later become Silicon Valley. He retired from Western Digital in 2008.

Jules Jr's. job enabled the family to move to Los Altos Hills. It was at this point that he purchased his first Ferrari and joined the local Ferrari Owners Club more than 30 years ago. He began attending track days to feed his urge to race at Laguna Seca & Infineon Raceway. He ultimately joined the CSRG Race Group, HMSA Race Group and the Historic Gran Prix Race Group and Pacific Region of the Ferrari Owners Club and raced all over the world.

After several failed marriages, Jules Jr. married Judy Jennings-Moritz in 1981. This began 31 years of sharing real estate, travel and racing. They resided on the Peninsula in Palo Alto Hills, Woodside and Portola Valley before moving to Gilroy, Calif., in 2000. Jules Jr. and Judy traveled extensively with trips to Africa, England, Italy, Monaco, Montreal Canada and throughout the United States.

Jules Jr. participated regularly at the Monterey Historic Races. He came in second at the Silver State Classic Challenge, as well as winning his class at the Virginia City Hillclimb all in 1988. Additional highlights include 2006 Wine Country Classic Best in show and performance, 2008 Kohler International Challenge at Road America in Wisconsin. He drove multiple Historic Formula One races at Infineon and Laguna Seca. In June of 2010 Jules Jr. participated in the Historic Formula One race group, as a support race, to the current F-1 Races at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, in Montreal Canada. This was the final race that Jules Jr. would drive.

Jules Jr. died after courageously battling Multiple Myeloma for two years. He is survived by his wife, Judy Jennings-Moritz, his son, Jules Moritz III, daughter-in-law, Whitney Olsen, his sister, Carol Schiesser, and brother-in-law, Hans Schiesser.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, 950 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park, on July 13, 2012, at 1 p.m. A Reception to follow at the church parish hall. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in his name to: http://www.myeloma.org and http://www.pathwayshealth.org .