Marilyn Bloch Obituary

Marilyn "Honey" Bloch was born in Rochester NY on May 25, 1931 and passed away on July 6, 2025 at Maplewood Nursing Home in Webster New York from multiple strokes and complications thereafter. She is survived by her son Philip (Denise) Bloch, daughter Melenie Bloch, grandson Zachary (Faris DuGraf) Self, great grandsons Batiz Pearl and Maze Memphis Self, close cousin and honorary daughter Sue Willer and many loving cousins in Rochester and other parts of the country. She is also survived by her beloved friends and neighbors at Georgetown Commons, including Sylvia Vecellio and Patricia and Robert Ellson; some extraordinary helpers and companions including Jackie Bell, Jennifer Campbell, the caring and still Undefeated Champion of Senior Psychology Jeanne Mulley and the caring staff at Maplewood, where she spent the last several years of her life.

Honey loved her life, her family and her friends dearly. She always saw the best in people, and for her, the glass was always 99% full. She appreciated the beauty of being alive, marveling at every sunset, enjoying the outdoors, loving walking and exercising and being around people. Her memory and gift for relating details were extraordinary, as anyone who listened to even one of her stories could confirm. She once said she was "high on life".

Honey was extremely proud of being a Rochestarian and would speak often about the many businesses that started there, as well as personalities who were born or lived there and their accomplishments. Some examples: Susan B. Anthony, George Eastman/Kodak, Bausch & Lomb, Cab Calloway, Robert Forster, Mitch Miller, David Hochstein, Son House, Joe Romano, John Viavattine, Garth Fagan, Achille Forgioni, Jr. (she owned one of his works), Foster Brooks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robert Wegman, Oscar Zimmerman, Sr., Albert Paley (she also owned one of his works) Wendell Castle and more. She knew a lot about the city and could tell you where everything was in Rochester and its suburbs. After living in Fairport for 17 years, she truly loved the town and her neighbors, some of whom became close friends. During her time in Fairport, there was more than one time when she found herself in the back of a Paramedics vehicle on the way to the hospital. After each occurrence, when she returned home she would visit the paramedics responsible for her trip with a plate full of fresh homemade cookies as a thank you. Since she did this more than once, they got to know each other.

Living in Fairport was the first time in many decades that she didn't own a dog, usually a standard poodle, the only dog her allergist would allow her to think about owning. Consequently, in her daily walks in Fairport she enjoyed meeting all the neighborhood dogs. She would sometimes get to know a dog before its owner. She loved all animals and was a supporter of Lollypop Farm. She could tell you how elephants mourn the loss of one of their own, how a pig will sigh if you rub its belly, and what it was like watching lions mate in Africa.

In addition to daily walks, she used to swim for an hour every day. Following brain surgery to remove a benign tumor, she lost hearing in one ear and her balance was adversely affected. She could no longer swim, so she started going to 6am aerobics classes. She loved to hike and also learned to cross country ski. Exercise and healthy eating were important to her and allowed her to remain active almost her entire life. Maplewood will verify that she went to every available activity and exercise class as long as she was able.

She was an avid volunteer most of her life, driving and delivering for Meals on Wheels, tape recording college level textbooks for blind students (which included orally conveying graphic elements such as charts, maps, spreadsheets, etc. so that blind students could clearly "see" them), transporting residents of The Jewish Home to various activities (including concerts, cooking classes and other outings), fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy, cancer, public television and many other causes. She also made herself available for anyone who needed her assistance. When the need arose, she even came up with the name for one of her volunteer organizations "Volunteer Works".

She loved driving her Volvos, one of which (according to the doctors) actually saved her life. Her name is on a plaque at the dealership.

Honey also loved to cook, and was a long time member of Rochester's Vegetarian Society. She was a strict vegan for over 40 years and an incredible cook.

Music was a lifelong joy for her. She enjoyed attending many kinds of presentations, from classics at the Eastman Theatre or Kilbourn Hall to local Rochester theaters, nightclubs, hotels, colleges, outdoor festivals and especially wherever jazz was featured (or George DeMott, Jr.).

She also surrounded herself with art, mostly modern, brightly colored works that she said made her happy. She was a longtime supporter of local museums and art galleries.

Honey traveled to many places in the world, including China, Africa, Morocco, Spain, France, Belgium, Italy, the Caribbean and the Canadian Rockies. She lived in Holland for eight years while in her 20's and continued to be conversant in Dutch her entire life.

After her first stroke, she stayed home and was well taken care of by some caregivers from Home Instead. When more attention was needed, she wound up being cared for by the wonderful staff at the Maplewood, where she lived the last years of her life.

When Honey was 84, she was interviewed by two high school students as part of a school assignment. Each one wrote their own essay about her. Since we don't have contact information for either, we hope their kindness will allow us to present their impressions here. We will include credit both of them for their work. Hope you enjoy them as much as Honey did. Please see the photo area where these essays can be viewed.

We would like to leave you by paraphrasing a short quote that Honey loved, taken from an essay by Robert N. Test. It was presented in a 1991 Ann Landers' column. The essay describes an alternative path to immortality.

"If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do what I have asked, I will live forever."

Please shares stories and memories of Honey on her tribute wall below. Her obituary will be in the newspaper on July 20th.