Former Planning Commissioner Les Moss Dies

Former  and longtime Malibu resident Les Moss died on Sunday at his home of a heart attack. He was 79.

Moss served on the Planning Commission from 1995 to 1996 and from 2004 to 2008. He also served on the Malibu Township Council board, was president of the Malibu West Homeowner's Association, sat on the Mobilehome Park Rent Stabilization Commission and was a member of the Senior Center Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee.

In addition, Moss was active in various community activities and campaigns, including serving as treasurer for Ken Kearsley's successful  bids in 2000 and 2004.  

Kearsley wrote in an email to Malibu Patch on Tuesday, "Les spent his life serving his fellow citizens in two countries. As a young man, he served in the RAF in the U.K., and when Les and his wife Barbara settled in Malibu, he gave countless hours to our community. He and Barbara made a good team that has helped Malibu blossom as a city."

Former Malibu Mayor Sharon Barovsky said, "[Moss' death] is a huge loss to the whole city. He knew what community service meant. He knew the true meaning of it. It was never about his ego; it was always about his neighborhood."

A retired insurance executive, Moss was born in London and had lived in Malibu for more than 40 years. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Barbara; son Adam; daughter and son-in-law Wendy and Andrew Nickerson; grandsons Joseph Mossbridge and Trevor Nickerson and brother Sidney. 

A memorial service will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. at the 

Donations in Moss' memory can be made to the  or Learning Ally, Reading for the Blind (20 Roszel Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540).

For more information on Moss' life, read the obituary written by his friend Ivor Davis.