Kathryn E. Moss

Kathryn E. Moss, 80, of Chapel Hill, NC passed away with family by her side on April 16, 2026. She was born March 20, 1946, in New Jersey, the daughter of Charlotte and Franklin Moss. An intellectually curious child, she excelled at school, ultimately earning a Doctor of Advanced Studies in Social Welfare at Brandeis University (1980). She worked as Assistant Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook where her research focused on promoting the application of political and social sciences to policy problems. She took time off from academia to marry the love of her life, Robert W. (Bob) Merriam (1923 – 2024), Professor of Biochemistry at SUNY Stony Brook. They made a home together in the Triangle area of North Carolina where she continued her research, focusing on the effectiveness of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as an affiliate at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill.

Kathryn lived a life enriched by her many talents and interests. As a child, Kathryn showed interest in the piano. She was inspired by Leonard Bernstein and became an accomplished pianist. She enjoyed playing with her musical family, working as an accompanist, and participating in concerts at Carolina Meadows, where she and Bob retired. Kathryn loved her family and her many close friends. She and Bob enjoyed travelling, playing tennis, canoeing, and hiking. She adored her late brother, Eric Paul Moss and his family, Hagar, Avital (Bitashu), Uri, Jonathan and Daniel, and would fly to Kfar-Saba, Israel to visit. The Merriam family, including her stepson and stepdaughter, Craig and Donna, and their children, spouses, and grandchildren, Ryan, Jessie, Simon, Jocelyn, and Chloe Merriam, Eric, Sarah, Lucie, Jack, and Theo Merriam, and Jon and William Weems will miss their gatherings together. She touched and enriched the lives of all who knew her, and many beyond.