Leo Louis Block, a former Denverite and co-founder of Block Distributing Company, passed away Aug. 31, 2009, at his home in San Antonio, Texas. He was 94.
The family said that Mr. Block will be remembered fondly for his wit, generosity and joie de vivre.
Mr. Block was born Nov. 25, 1914, to the late Lily (Silver) and Morris Herz Block.
He attended East High School and DU, where he served as editor of the student newspaper. He graduated with an AB in 1935.
After working briefly in the insurance industry, Mr. Block served in the US Army in Italy during WW II.
He then joined his cousin Edward Block in a wine bottling business in San Antonio. The two men founded Block Distributing Co. (now Republic National Distributing), which became the larget wine and liquor distribution outlet in south Texas.
A philanthropist, Mr. Block endowed a professorship at DU that has been filled by former Colorado Gov. Richard Lamm, social scientist Charles Murray, composer David Amram and poet Susan Howe.
The DU Alumni Association honored him with the Evans Award in 1992, and the Leo Block Alumni Center was dedicated in 1996.
Mr. Block also established a scholarship fund at the University of Texas at San Antonio.
An art collector, Mr. Block was an accomplished bowler and world traveler.
He is survived by his wife Erma (Spell) Block; sister Betty Jane Simmons of Denver, wife of Seymour Simmons, Jr.; sister-in-law Rachel Block, widow of the late Elliott Silver Block of San Antonio; and many nephews, nieces and cousins.
