Obituary of Judith Block

Judith Matisoff Block of Niskayuna, NY, died on August 9, 2015 after a heroic five year battle with esophageal cancer. She was the daughter of the late Philip and Minna Matisoff, wife of Dr. Eric Block, mother of David Block (Susan Kaplan) and Melinda Laz (Dr. Peter Laz), grandmother of Benjamin Kaplan-Block, Welcome Kaplan-Block and Maya Laz, sister of Robert (Nancy) Matisoff, and sister-in-law of Joyce (Carl) Block Lazarus. Judith was born in Buffalo, NYin 1945 and grew up in Boston and Manchester, NH, graduating from Manchester Central High School in 1963. Her 1958 Bat Mitzvah at Temple Israel in Manchester was the first in New Hampshire. Judith earned her BA degree in English and Education from Simmons College in 1967. On December 25, 1966 she married Dr. Eric Block and moved with him to St. Louis, Missouri the following year. While living in St. Louis, Judith worked for the C.V. Mosby Company where she served as Production Editor for the American Heart Journal, obtained an Associates Degree in interior design from Washington University, and raised her son and daughter. In 1981 Judith moved with her familyto the Capital District of New York, living in Delmar and then Niskayuna. Judith served as Senior Production Editor for State University of New York Press, where during her twelve years of employment she produced more than 300 books in a variety of scholarly disciplines such as comparative literature, environmental policy, local history, philosophy, religious studies, and women’s studies, many authored by University at Albany faculty members. For nine years Judith also served as editor, publicist and writer for the Lighting Research Center (LRC) at RPI. At the LRC, Judith was Managing Editor for both the 8th and 9th editions of the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Lighting Handbook, a 1,000-page textbook on lighting technologies and applications used by lighting engineers and designers. She also designed, wrote and edited a series of lighting application publications (DELTA: Design and Evaluation of Lighting Technologies and Applications) based on studies done by the LRC. Despite her demanding professional life, Judith also found time to sing with the Octavo Singers, to serve as Recording Secretary for Hadassah Capital District, and as a member of theBoard of Trustees and the Ritual Committee at Temple Gates of Heaven in Schenectady,where sheedited the monthly Bulletin and co-edited and produced theYizkor Prayer Book. Judith also participated in AAUW,Capital District Simmons Club, UAlbany Women’s Group, and couples gourmet andbridge groups. She took courses at UCALL (Union College) and the UAlbany Emeritus Center, and regularly attended musical performances, ballet,and theater.Judith greatly enjoyed traveling, joining her husband on sabbaticalsin Cambridge (UK), Rehovot (Israel), and Bologna (Italy), as well as traveling in Europe, the Middle East, Asia,Central and South America, the Caribbean, Canada and throughout the U.S. About Judith it can be said: ‘A woman of valor, who can find? Far beyond pearls is her value. Her husband’s heart trusts in her and he shall lack no fortune. She repays his good, but never his harm, all the days of her life … Her children rise and celebrate her; and her husband, he praises her: “Many daughters have attained valor, but you have surpassed them all.”’ [Proverbs 31:10-31]. Her family is grateful to Judith’s many caring and skillful doctors, nurses sand aides both in Albany as well as at the Massachusetts General Hospital, who treated her. Funeral services will be held at noon on Wednesday, August 12 at Congregation Gates of Heaven, 852 Ashmore Ave, Schenectady, NY 12309. There will be a Shiva service and reception at 27 Edison Drive, Niskayuna, NY 12309, at 7 pm both on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Donations in Judy’s honor can be made to the Judith Matisoff Block Scholarship Fund c/o Congregation Gates of Heaven, 852 Ashmore Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12309.