Louis R. Moffa, 89, Virtua executive

Louis R. Moffa, 89, formerly of Haddonfield, who retired in 2010 as an executive with Virtua, the South Jersey network of medical centers, died of end stage heart failure on Sunday, Sept. 27, at his home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

As vice president for design and construction management for Virtua, a title he had held since he joined the firm in 1990, Mr. Moffa was responsible for the construction of the William G. Rohrer Center for HealthFitness in Voorhees, said a son, Louis R. Jr., a Cherry Hill lawyer.

James Rivard, senior vice president for support services at Virtua, worked with Mr. Moffa from 1997 through 2010.

"Lou was one of the hardest-working, fun-loving, and well-respected individuals that I have ever met," Rivard said in a phone interview.

"Lou always expected the best out of everybody, including construction companies and architects," Rivard said.

"He would always say to the companies, 'Are you bringing your A-Team to the table?' "

And, Rivard said, "after a project would be completed, he would actually grade the architect and the construction company."

A 1944 graduate of Haddonfield High School, Mr. Moffa earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering at the University of Detroit in 1950.

He was trained as a Navy pilot during World War II, but saw no combat, his son said.

"He spent time at eight different universities" for flight training, including Duke and St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, he said.

Mr. Moffa began his career as a civil engineer with United Engineers and Constructors in Philadelphia, working there from the 1950s into the 1960s.

"He was involved with a project in Linden, a power plant," while at United, his son said.

Mr. Moffa became a partner in the former Edward D. Lord Co., a general construction firm in Cherry Hill specializing in public projects such as sewage treatment plants, his son said, and helped run it from the 1960s into the mid-1970s.

He then joined the former Harford Construction Co., also in Cherry Hill, as an estimator and project manager, and worked there into the late 1980s, before moving to Virtua, his son said.

Another son, Salvatore, is vice president for medical affairs for the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerset.

In a separate interview, Salvatore said his father "had impeccable character and integrity."

"He was often quiet but always respectful. The life of the party, when he wanted to be."

Besides Salvatore and Louis R. Jr., Mr. Moffa is survived by his wife, Lita, sons Dominic and Robert, daughter Maria Moffa, stepson Steven Hirshenhorn, stepdaughters Hildy Berger and Jackie Glass, seven grandchildren, a great grandson, and four step-grandchildren. His wife of 40 years, Dina, died in 1996.

A visitation is set from 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 135 N. White Horse Pike, Lindenwold, before a 10 a.m. Memorial Mass there.

Donations may be sent to www.eustace.org/giveonline.

Condolences may be offered to the family at Moffa Family, P.O. Box 187, Haddonfield, N.J. 08033 and www.boccofuneralhome.com.

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