Joseph Hess was born in Fulda, Germany on June 25, 1932. He and his sister, Ilse, were on one of the last Kindertransports that took them to England where they lived with a foster family for several years. Joe immigrated to the United States with his foster family and sister in 1948 and lived in Millville, New Jersey. After graduating from high school and starting college at Rutgers University, he joined the Air Force. While stationed in Boston, he met the love of his life, Margie, married and enjoyed 68 wonderful years together. Joe was fortunate to have been able to reunite with his father, Max, in 1954 after believing he had perished during the Holocaust. Joe worked for the Air Force Cambridge Research Labs in Massachusetts and moved to California in 1968 where he continued his tenure as the Director of Space Division for the U.S. Department of Defense. Aside from his career, his involvement in Jewish philanthropic organizations was near and dear to him. Joe was President of Temple Beth Shalom in Long Beach, President of the Orange County region of Jewish National Fund, Vice President of Government Affairs for JNF, and a national Vice President for United Synagogue.
Joe was an incredible husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His immediate and extended family, along with his numerous friends, will miss him tremendously.
Husband of
Marjorie Lee Hess, of blessed memory
Father of
Lisa (Rick) Wilen*
Jim (Michele) Hess
Grandfather of
Steven (Joy) Wilen and David (fiancée Victoria) Wilen
Max z”l, Cameron, and Eden Hess
Great-Grandfather of
Grayson and Noah Wilen
Brother of
Ilse Resnick