SHREWSBURY___Peter Molis, 85, a long time resident of Shrewsbury, died May 3 at home, after a brief illness. Mr. Peter Molis was born in Smilgiai, Lithuania, on February 11, 1924, son of Elzbieta Cepaityte and Petras Molis and immigrated to the United States in 1949. He became a naturalized citizen in 1954.
During the war, Mr. Molis studied economics at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universitat in Freiburg, Germany, where he received a B.A. in Economics. He worked as a French and German interpreter for the French occupation forces and received two commendations for his service. Mr. Molis continued his studies at Becker Junior College in Worcester and he completed his M.B.A. at Boston College. He took a position with Power Engineering Co., Inc. in Framingham and then Shrewsbury. He worked for Power Engineering from 1955 to 1992 starting out as accounting manager and retiring as President.
Mr. Molis was an active member of the Lithuanian Scouts Association and served as Scoutmaster for the Nevezio Tuntas in Worcester from 1958-1961 and 1965-1969. Together with his wife, Raminta (nee Mantautas) Molis, he founded the Worcester Academic Scouts chapter in 1962 and held various positions to include president from 1978-1984. He continued his scouting career and was elected as the Chief Boy Scout for two terms 1970-1972 and 1973-1975 and finally rose to the rank of Lithuanian Scouts Association Chief Scout Executive from 1985-1987 and 1988-1990. He was the President of the Lithuanian Scouts Fund at the time of his death. Mr Molis was also a member of the Boy Scouts of America building relationships between the two organizations through joint leadership training. Mr. Molis earned his third Wood Badge bead in 1983.
Mr. Molis enjoyed traveling and did so extensively in both his business and scouting careers with visits to Australia, Japan, Norway, Brazil, England, Germany, Spain, Canada and throughout the United States. He met Pope John Paul II in 1982 and the King of Norway, Olav V, in 1975.
He was awarded the Republic of Lithuania’s Grand Duke Gediminas Medal by Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus in 2002 for his many years of service.
Mr. Molis supported and participated in many Lithuanian – American associations. He was on the board of directors for Maironis Park in Shrewsbury, The Lithuanian Naturalization Club, Worcester, the Worcester Area Council of Lithuanian Organizations, the Taupa Lithuanian Federal Credit Union in Boston and the Lithuanian Outing Association in Gardner. Mr. Molis was a member of St. Casimir’s Parish Council, Worcester, where he had been a devoted parishioner for many years.
Mr. Molis was predeceased by his wife, Raminta Molis in 2003, and he leaves his daughters and their families: Rima, Sam, Sofija and Lucy Sutton of Strafford, N.H., and Danute, Randy, Tomas and Lukas Hoffman of Severna Park, MD. He leaves his brother, Jonas Mulevicius of London, Canada and a sister, Agota Tumiene of Smilgiai, Lithuania and their families.
The funeral will be held on Thursday, May 7, from DIRSA-MORIN FUNERAL HOME, 298 Grafton Street, Worcester with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in St. Casimir Church, 41 Providence Street, Worcester. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Putnam, CT. Calling hours in the funeral home are Wednesday, May 6 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lietuviskosios Skautybes Fondas (Lithuanian Scouts Fund) c/o Romas Jakubauskas, 14 Nancy Dr, Auburn, Ma., 01501