THE COLOURFUL LIFE OF DR. MORRIS MENDOZA

Dr Morris Mendoza from Bournemouth, has lived the most colourful of lives.

A medical doctor, qualified pilot, forensic scientist and wonderfully gifted artist, Dr. Mendoza is a man of many talents. But life has not always run a smooth course.

Born in 1941 to a Jewish Dutch family, he became a child of the Holocaust. His parents were taken away to the Nazi death camp in Auschwitz and as a 4 year old he was taken to Ireland to live. He grew up there and eventually graduated from Trinity College, Dublin.

From there he moved to England and joined the RAF. He trained as a medical doctor specialising in trauma and rapid eye movement. He consequently spent 25 years working with Scotland Yard in the Forensic Unit and has fascinating stories on CD of cases he was involved in.

Among his many experiences was working in Vienna with Simon Weisenthal, the legendary Nazi capturer. He recalls it being a traumatic time and realised there was no depth to which mankind can sometimes sink.

But tragedy also occurred in Dr. Mendoza’s life. Some years ago he lost his wife and in the space of 18 months his two sons, both young men. One died in a car crash and the other from a bomb blast in Tel Aviv.

To recover from such a blow speaks volumes for the character of the man. Dr. Mendoza puts much of it down to his faith in God and the support of the local Jewish community. His new wife, Stephanie, has also been a tower of strength.

He reminds us of a story that once was told to him by an old Rabbi:

"A deer has two eyes on the side of its head to look out for danger. But a person has two eyes on the front of his head to look into the future regardless of the pain of the past."

Morris is also the author of two books:

• In the Beginning was Fear – Narrod Press 1964, 1966.
• They Sacrifice to Molloch – Narrod Press 1964, 1966.

Pictured below is one of his many beautiful paintings which adorn his flat.