Henry Allen Block Obituary

Henry Allen Block attended Pioneer High School in San Jose, CA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Henry Allen Block.

Graduation Year	Class of 1963
Date of Passing	Apr 02, 2008
About	Henry Allen Block June 13, 1945 - April 2, 2008 We were blessed. Henry loved and was loved by his wife Barbara (Edleman), his parents Florence (Lehman) and Emil (both deceased), his siblings: Leroy (Colleen) of Santa Clara, Delbert (deceased), GracyAnn (Fred) O'Carroll of Ceres, Larry (Gloria) of San Jose, Dick (Lynn) of San Jose and Diamond Springs, Doug (Carol) of San Jose, Valerie Mathers (deceased), Robert (Tina) of Captain Cook, HI, Gabe (Gail) of San Jose, and Christopher (Patricia) of Sacramento; his daughter Rebecca (Ron Ames - deceased) Ames-Block and stepchildren David Cain (Sheila Gray), Dana (Mike) Ransford, Steve (Linda) Maultsby, and Phil (Grace) Maultsby; his grandchildren Faith, Kyle, Kaley, Tracy, Elyse, Willy, Amber, Stephanie, Jessica, Jonathan, Joshua; his godchildren Debbie, Brittin, Courtney, Trevor, Chelsea, David, Tara; his great granddaughter Victoria; nieces, nephews and cousins too numerous to list; many Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (Micronesia 1966 - 1968); the Bushwackers: the Nation of Men; his abalone/free diving and scuba buddies; his skiing friends; his mountain climbing partners; the nurses and doctors at Kaiser Hayward Oncology; and his pets. Henry attended St. Mary's Grammar School and Bellarmine College Prep School and graduated from Pioneer High School in 1963. He was awarded his B.S. from San Jose State Univ. and his M.A. (Anthropology) from the Univ of Arizona. Henry married Carolyn Tucker in 1969. He worked various jobs to support his family, including mining copper, laying roads and managing a pizza parlor before beginning his career at the family business, Block's Residential, a facility for mentally ill men. He became co-administrator of Block's, and he and new wife Barbara (with Rebecca) opened Day by Day Residential, a sober living home for recovering addict men. Henry and Barbara traveled the world alone and as speakers on cruise adventures. He was very passionate about the causes in which he believed (addiction recovery, hunger and poverty in the U.S. and around the world, and understanding and tolerance among peoples) and very generous with his time. Henry was diagnosed with an indolent form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma in May 2003. He retired 2 years later. His cancer morphed into a more aggressive (mantle cell) form of lymphoma in 2007. Henry did not "battle" with cancer. He lived with it, participated in a clinical trial, waded bravely through chemo and radiation, and left this world peacefully at home as he desired. He requested his body be donated for research through Life Legacy. Henry was funny and intelligent and compassionate - a truly remarkable man. In his honor, a funeral Mass will be held at Queen of Apostles Church, 4911 Moorpark Ave., San Jose at 11 am on Monday, April 14. A celebration of his life will be held following the Mass at. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Henry's honor to either Life Legacy Fdn (lifelegacy.org or (888) 774-4438) or Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org or (212) 679-6800). San Jose Mercury News (CA) - April 12, 2008