Obituary of Edward J. Bloch

EDWARD J. BLOCH Latham- Ed Bloch, beloved and loving husband, father, grand-father, great grand-father, and uncle died peacefully in his sleep at home on August 24. He was a man of many passions; the central core of all of his works was working for peace and fighting for the underdog, the disenfranchised, people living in poverty, workers, equal rights and veterans - the 99%. Ed was a man of faith for whom religion formed the foundation upon which he worked, marched, protested, picketed, prayed and played. He was an optimist who believed in the capacity for change, indeed it was the cornerstone of all of his works. After degrees from Williams, Officers V12 School at Dartmouth, and Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and teaching at Robert College in Istanbul, he worked with UE (United Electrical and Machine Workers of America), first as an International Organizer in the NYC regional area, then with Local 332 in Hudson Falls. Ed's titles and causes have included Executive Director of the New York State Interfaith Alliance, Solidarity, Veterans for Peace, past President of the NYS Council of Veterans Organizations, moderator for the Presbyterian Church in the capital district area, and he ran for Congress in 1984 and 1986. Ed's service in the Marines during WWII was in Okinawa, receiving a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Veterans are always affected by war, and the work of Edward Tick, PhD. founding Director of Soldier's Heart and author of "War and the Soul", and his work with veterans and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was a profound influence on Ed's life. It encouraged him to travel to China again after 66 years to seek judgment for his actions as a 21 year old Marine whose platoon was sent to China after the end of WWII. Their mission was to protect the rail line from sabotage and they worked in consortium and confusion with armed Japanese soldiers and Chinese Nationalists. Ed loved family, writing, humor, the theater, singing Gilbert and Sullivan, traveling, political activism, playing the piano, canoeing, reciting Winnie the Pooh, sharing his knowledge and stories, sailing, dancing, talking to strangers and making new friends. Born in New York City on April 17, 1924, he was the son of the late Henry and Sylvia (Marks) Bloch. Ed married Naomi Finkelstein on January 9, 1972 and they shared a life in the Capital District for 42 years. Survivors include Naomi, his children: Linda (Nat) Ayer of Burlington, VT, Alan (Renee) Bloch of Charlotte, NC, Susan Wolterbeek of St. Thomas, VI and their daughter Dr. Rebecca (Larry) McFall Bloch of Raleigh NC; 5 cherished grandchildren: Damon, Toby, Zimmy, Steven and Logan and 2 great grandchildren: Oliver and Anna; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Henry Bloch. We are grateful to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand for flying a flag over the US Capitol Building in his honor. A community memorial celebration will be held Monday, Nov. 10, 2014 at 5 PM at the First Lutheran Church, 181 Western Ave., Albany, NY 12203. In memory of Ed, the Capital Area Council of Churches is establishing an award that will be given annually to recognize a young person who exemplifies the principles of interfaith commitment and action that Ed believed in and lived by. Contributions go to the Ed Bloch Interfaith Youth Award c/o Capital Area Council of Churches, 646 State St., Albany, NY 12203. For further details call Deb Raiitano, 505-7498 For information or to light a memory candle for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com