MAN'S FATE IS STORY OF DECEIT; PHYSICIAN GETS LIFE TERM AFTER 23 ELUSIVE YEARS.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer

To his Valencia neighbors, William Moalem was a nice guy. To fellow podiatrists, he was trouble. It was a San Mateo jury that labeled him a murderer, sentencing him to life in prison 23 years after his partner was gunned down by a hired hit man.

``He seemed to be really friendly,'' said Albert Carter, who lived near Moalem in the Valencia Hills neighborhood. ``I guess you never know who you are living next door to.''

As news of his conviction and sentencing spread, neighbors were shocked that Moalem was convicted of hiring a hit man to kill his podiatric business partner to collect on life insurance money. His colleagues weren't surprised, calling to mind Moalem's rocky history in the profession.

Since Moalem became a licensed podiatrist Aug. 17, 1965, he has been fired from his position as a student affairs officer at the California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco and was facing quality-of-care complaints filed with the California Board of Podiatric Medicine, said executive officer Jim Rathlesberger.

Moalem had worked for Garey Lee Weber's Foot and Ankle Center in Studio City and reportedly became vice president for the Weber Group after moving to Valencia from the Bay Area a few years ago.

Then last spring, Moalem was arrested at his Undine Road home. He was charged with first-degree murder in the Oct. 13, 1976, death of Benjamin Hurwitz.

Hurwitz was shot in the neck while driving on Highway 92 in Foster City. Officials said Moalem and his then-wife, Tania, plotted to kill Hurwitz in order to collect a $60,000 life insurance policy.

Moalem, now 60, and hired hit man Richard Quilopras, 47, of Union City were each sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder Monday at the San Mateo County Superior Court.

Another co-conspirator, driver Dan Agan, confessed to his role in Moalem's murder as well as another 1985 slaying also involving Quilopras. Agan cooperated and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in both cases, said San Mateo County Assistant District Attorney Martin Murray.

Moalem's daughter-in-law, 21-year-old Elisa Moalem, said Wednesday that she was sad because Moalem was such a kind man.

``He was a good man,'' she said as she looked at her toddler, Linda, remembering how much he loved to hug his granddaughter.

Elisa Moalem, who now lives at her father-in-law's Valencia home with her daughter and husband, David, 23, said Moalem had helped the couple financially and was there for them when they needed him.

Her slight smile at the memory of her father-in-law disappeared as she thought about a life without him.

``I'm sad,'' she repeated over and over.

Rathlesberger, on the other hand, said it was too bad that it took so long for Moalem to go to jail.

``He tried to establish his practice in the Bay Area, but had a history of petty disputes with his partners,'' Rathlesberger said.

Unable to establish the practice he wanted up north, Moalem began to testify at trials as an expert witness in malpractice cases, Rathlesberger said.

``He'd call doctors testifying on the other side and tell them (not to) testify,'' Rathlesberger said.

In 1993, the board of Podiatric Medicine submitted a complaint for negligence and quality of care against Moalem with the Attorney General's Office. Rathlesberger said the case is still pending.

Moalem later formed a practice with Hurwitz in San Mateo. It was Hurwitz's daughter, Judy, who continually pressed investigators to find her father's killer.

Investigators Steve Archer and his partner, Pamela Glemblot, finally cracked the 23-year-old case after interviewing Tania Moalem when they learned the couple were divorcing.

They learned that Moalem had contacted insurance agent Sid Cooper, requesting a life insurance policy on Hurwitz and asking Cooper whether he knew of a hit man. Cooper directed Moalem to Quilopras, whom the Moalems paid $6,000 after Hurwitz was killed.

Tania Moalem's statements led police to Cooper, who admitted his role in the murder-for-hire plot. He was not charged in exchange for his cooperation with prosecutors.

Moalem had requested that Hurwitz attend a meeting in San Francisco, then alerted Quilopras about the route his victim would drive, Murray said.

While driving on Highway 92, Hurwitz was shot in the neck. Just two weeks earlier, somebody had shot at Hurwitz while he was driving, but that shooting was believed at the time to be random, Murray said.

Officials learned that the Moalems, in need of money, had to borrow to pay the insurance premiums on Hurwitz. Apparently Tania Moalem had forgotten to make the last payment and the couple sued the insurance company for the money after Hurwitz's death. They received a $24,000 judgment, Murray said.

Tania Moalem pleaded guilty Dec. 15, 1998, to being an accessory to murder. She was sentenced to five years' probation and given credit for the time she had already served in jail, Murray said.