In all his years serving as advertising manager for the Jewish Community Bulletin, Charlie Block never stopped doing what he always did best: having a positive attitude and making people smile.
The Millbrae resident and longtime Jewish community stalwart was a true master of social graces. Charles Block died Nov. 22 following complications from surgery. He was 88.
A native San Franciscan, Block served as the Jewish Bulletin’s advertising manager for 45 years. He watched the newspaper grow alongside the Bay Area Jewish community. But his connection to the paper began long before he actually began working for it.
His father, Eugene Block, served as editor of the Jewish Community Bulletin (as this paper was then called) for decades, helping to build it up into one of the country’s premiere Jewish newspapers. And like his father, Charlie Block loved the Bay Area Jewish community and was proud to serve it.
“He was the most honest, kind man you’d ever want to meet,” said his son, Larry Block. “He had an extremely positive attitude, with never a bad word to say about anyone.”
Added his former boss, current j. publisher Marc Klein, “Charlie was one of the warmest and sweetest men I have ever met. He cared tremendously about the community and about this newspaper. Every day I’d hear him on the phone, asking [clients], ‘What do we have in common? We both want results.’ And it seemed to work. He sold those ads.”
Born in 1921, Block attended George Washington High School in San Francisco. He launched his newspaper career at the San Francisco Examiner. After a stint in the Navy during World War II, in 1945 he followed his father to the Jewish Community Bulletin. At the time, he was the newspaper’s only ad salesman.
“He knew everybody and everybody knew him,” said KGO talk show host John Rothmann, whose aunt had married one of Block’s brothers. “He was loved by the advertisers. It was hard to say no to Charlie because he was such a nice guy.”
He met his wife of 61 years, Nancy, at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, while she was visiting from out of town. The two married, moved to San Mateo and raised a son and daughter.
“They were very loving parents,” recalled Larry Block. “They taught us well, and we learned the lessons.”
Block was a Masonic Lodge member and a regular volunteer at Mills-Peninsula Hospital. Upon retirement in 1990, he began painting and continued his lifelong passion for taking cruises. Just last year he, Nancy and the whole family took a cruise to Tahiti to celebrate 60 years of marriage.
The couple had moved to the retirement community Magnolia of Millbrae, where Block remained very active. “If they could have elected a mayor, it would have been Charlie,” said Rothmann. “He always had a smile on his face. He knew everybody by name.”
“He was a warm, wonderful man,” added Nancy Block, “who thoroughly enjoyed people.”
Charles Block is survived by his wife, Nancy, of Millbrae; daughter Babette Block of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; son Larry Block of Sarasota, Fla.; brother Edwin Block of Kentfiel; one grandchild and a great-granddaughter. Donations in his memory may be sent to the Parkinson Foundation or ORT America, c/o Joan LaPedis, 1210 Bellevue Ave., No. 201, Burlingame, CA 94010.