Albert (Al) Block, PhD, 88, passed away peacefully on January 4th at his home in Gainesville,
Florida. He was born on September 28, 1924 in Brooklyn, New York to Maurice and Jean Block.
Al graduated from Brooklyn’s Samuel J. Tilden High School in 1941 and immediately left his
childhood home to join the US Army’s 14th Armored Division. He served on the front lines in
Europe until the end of WWII and helped to liberate several prisoner of war camps. He remained
in the US Army Reserve and was recalled to serve during the Korean war. He retired with the
rank of Major after 25 years.
A naturally gifted musician, Al used the GI Bill to pursue his passion after the war. He received his
BA and MA in Music from NYU while minoring in education. A teacher encouraged him to apply
to the prestigious Juilliard School. Al reconsidered, though, choosing to leave his New York City
home once again. He made his way to Miami where he began teaching elementary school,
working as a reading specialist in the Dade County school system, and playing piano in several
popular local venues.
Al was as passionate about learning and education as he was for music. He quickly found
additional work teaching English to immigrants at Miami Dade Community College at night. It
was there that Al met the love of his life, another young instructor named Judy. Al and Judy Block
were married in 1964.
Al soon began work on his PhD in Education at the University of Miami where he helped launch
the first Head Start program. He became the director of the JFK Early Childhood Program, a
cooperative effort between the Dade county school system and Miami Dade CC. He was hired as
a Professor of Education at the University of Florida, and he and Judy moved to Gainesville in
1966. In 1968, Al became Chairman of Early Childhood Education at UF.
In 1971 Al and Judy founded Brentwood School in Gainesville, which is still thriving today.
Brentwood remains an integral part of his legacy. Two of his sons Ken and Jeffrey, graduated
from Brentwood School in the late 1970’s, while his grandson Chance graduated just last year.
His Granddaughters Marley and Alaina currently attend Brentwood as well. Al served as Director
of the school for over a decade before accepting a position as Director of Student Support
Services at Santa Fe College in Gainesville, where he served for 15 years before retiring.
Throughout those 15 years he also taught Early Childhood Education classes for the Nova
University graduate program.
The center of his universe was without question his family. His deep love for his wife Judy
was apparent to everyone who knew him and he loved her endlessly. Words are inadequate.
The love, loyalty, unconditional support, and pride that he displayed for his 3 sons Mark, Ken, and
the late Jeffrey Block was a shining example to the world of what fatherhood should truly be. His
face would light up with joy at the mere mention of his grandchildren. The simple sound of their
voices and easy laughter brought him so much happiness. He deeply cherished their endless
hugs.
His hearing was damaged by rapid rifle fire in WWII, but Al’s ear for music and love of words
never left him. In 2000 he co-wrote the song “Out There” with his son, Ken, that appeared on the
Sister Hazel gold record, Fortress. Throughout his life he played piano whenever he could.
Al possessed a quick wit and a subtle and clever sense of humor. One of his favorite house rules
was that “a bad joke is better than no joke at all”. And he whispered bad puns to the end, with a
knowing smile you’d almost miss, if you didn’t know better.
Al is survived by his wife Judy of Gainesville, Florida; his son Mark (Debbie) of Fort Lauderdale,
Florida; his son Ken (Tracy) of Gainesville, Florida; his grandchildren Chanson, Marley and
Alaina; his sister Toby Larsson of Thompson Falls, Montana; and his nieces and nephews and
other relatives.
Al was preceded in death by his parents Maurice and Jean; his brother Lee; and his dearly loved
son Jeffrey.
A celebration of life service will be held at 7PM Monday evening January 7th at the Santa Fe
College Fine Arts Center, 3000 N.W. 83rd Street, Gainesville, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the “Jeff Block Memorial
Scholarship” fund at the above address, Santa Fe College.