Daniel Bloom
1925 - 2016
Claudia Bloom
After many years of not spending a lot of time with my Dad, he lived some of my growing up years in LA or a few other cities and then I was living in upstate NY at college before I moved to New York City, I reconnected with him in my late 20s. I was about to be married and my husband at the time wanted to meet my Dad and thought we should both spend more time with him. I visited him then in LA (he was doing research then at UCLA) and I was happy we did spend time that time together.
Soon after that visit, I moved to LA as well and those few years were helpful in spending more time with my Dad. He got to know my life a bit better and me his world. I relocated back to New York City after a career change and soon after had my son. Dad also relocated to Philadelphia so it was perfect timing for us to see each other a bit more and for him to get to know his first grandchild, Ben. We often all took a day trip to Philly to take Dad to lunch, walk around his local park, visit a museum together. I enjoyed those days with him and I watched him also get to know Ben and Ben his Grandfather. In some ways, I realized that later in life my Dad understood and enjoyed "parenting" more in that way, he seemed happier and more content and that created a nice bond with those two guys.
My Dad and I, over all of these back and forth years, often wrote letters and cards to each other and then Ben took up the same routine. I would drop a postcard in the mail to him with any new news or updates and he did the same. Often he would send me updates on his medical or science research and he would include magazine or newspapers clippings he thought I would like. I remember two of those especially - when I divorced he sent me the back page of his University of Pennsylvania alumni paper with dating listings to see if any of the men would interest me which I thought was sweet; and then when I was about to take my first solo trip to Barbados and I had done a lot of research on the island, Dad sent me a copy of a page from the encyclopedia about the island highlighting the information that the driving is on the other side of the road. I had no idea and no one else mentioned that to me. I was happy to know that ahead of time and decided I'd learn a new skill there and I did!
For many years at my magazine job, about once a month, my phone would ring and it was Dad. I recall those conversations well, he didn't like to share a lot with me (and in his later years he had a hard time speaking) but he seemed to really love to hear any of my news about my work, my new social life, my travels and always about Ben and his schooling and his basketball success. Dad was supportive of all we were doing and when I expressed concern about keeping up with all the bills, suddenly once a month I received a book of stamps - he wanted to help out and make sure I got those bills sent on time!
I took a yearly trip to LA and always included a visit to Glendale either alone or with Ben or with my family. Dad would wait for quite a while in the lobby for our arrival and when he saw us arrive, he was all dressed up and ready to go and really lit up. A big smile, a strong handshake with a full embrace and I knew this visit was very important for him. I liked seeing his new home, sitting and drinking coffee, catching up and always taking him out nearby for lunch as well. The visits were only annual but clearly important for both of us to continue and strengthen our bond as family.
I'm happy I called him from my new beach home about two weeks prior to his death so he was still up to date on my new life change and knew how well Ben was doing at his college, with his best grades ever and best college basketball experience as well. Even with my Dad not being able to speak I could "hear" his joy and support and that meant so much to me.
Thanks Dad.
Soon after that visit, I moved to LA as well and those few years were helpful in spending more time with my Dad. He got to know my life a bit better and me his world. I relocated back to New York City after a career change and soon after had my son. Dad also relocated to Philadelphia so it was perfect timing for us to see each other a bit more and for him to get to know his first grandchild, Ben. We often all took a day trip to Philly to take Dad to lunch, walk around his local park, visit a museum together. I enjoyed those days with him and I watched him also get to know Ben and Ben his Grandfather. In some ways, I realized that later in life my Dad understood and enjoyed "parenting" more in that way, he seemed happier and more content and that created a nice bond with those two guys.
My Dad and I, over all of these back and forth years, often wrote letters and cards to each other and then Ben took up the same routine. I would drop a postcard in the mail to him with any new news or updates and he did the same. Often he would send me updates on his medical or science research and he would include magazine or newspapers clippings he thought I would like. I remember two of those especially - when I divorced he sent me the back page of his University of Pennsylvania alumni paper with dating listings to see if any of the men would interest me which I thought was sweet; and then when I was about to take my first solo trip to Barbados and I had done a lot of research on the island, Dad sent me a copy of a page from the encyclopedia about the island highlighting the information that the driving is on the other side of the road. I had no idea and no one else mentioned that to me. I was happy to know that ahead of time and decided I'd learn a new skill there and I did!
For many years at my magazine job, about once a month, my phone would ring and it was Dad. I recall those conversations well, he didn't like to share a lot with me (and in his later years he had a hard time speaking) but he seemed to really love to hear any of my news about my work, my new social life, my travels and always about Ben and his schooling and his basketball success. Dad was supportive of all we were doing and when I expressed concern about keeping up with all the bills, suddenly once a month I received a book of stamps - he wanted to help out and make sure I got those bills sent on time!
I took a yearly trip to LA and always included a visit to Glendale either alone or with Ben or with my family. Dad would wait for quite a while in the lobby for our arrival and when he saw us arrive, he was all dressed up and ready to go and really lit up. A big smile, a strong handshake with a full embrace and I knew this visit was very important for him. I liked seeing his new home, sitting and drinking coffee, catching up and always taking him out nearby for lunch as well. The visits were only annual but clearly important for both of us to continue and strengthen our bond as family.
I'm happy I called him from my new beach home about two weeks prior to his death so he was still up to date on my new life change and knew how well Ben was doing at his college, with his best grades ever and best college basketball experience as well. Even with my Dad not being able to speak I could "hear" his joy and support and that meant so much to me.
Thanks Dad.
