Michael Bloch, 56, born on July 16, 1966 and raised in the Oak Park area, died suddenly on Oct. 27, 2022. Mike was humbleness, kindness, and love personified. He grew up in River Forest, where he attended local public schools and graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1984. After graduating from Indiana University in 1988, he returned to the near west suburbs. For the last 29 years, he worked at Shaker Recruitment Marketing in Oak Park.
A lifelong sports fan, he played baseball in River Forest Little League as a kid, coached River Forest teams after graduating from college, and for more than 20 years ran various Little League programs while serving on the River Forest Youth Baseball and Softball governing board. His dedication to sports extended to Oak Park, where he coordinated adult softball leagues for the Park District for about 20 years.
Mike enjoyed working at Shaker and thought of his co-workers there as extended family. He shared his wicked sense of humor, and, late in his life, discovered his love of cats. He was maybe the greatest “gunkle” the world has ever known, sending surprise bouncy houses to birthday parties, photographing baby Chewbacca’s cross-country journey, telling ridiculous yet captivating bedtime stories, and buying all the candy at the movies. He loved a rare steak, a White Sox game, a fantasy sports league, Indiana University basketball, and spending time with friends and family.
He is survived by his mother, Jeanne Bloch, his sisters, Shana (husband Ryan) and Jennifer (husband Peter), and his nephew and nieces Eli Bloch Garcia, Luisa Bloch Garcia, Lucy King and Cora King.
There will be a memorial service celebrating Michael’s life at 11 a.m. on Nov. 19 at Riverside Golf Club, 2520 S. Desplaines Ave., North Riverside.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for childhood brain tumors.
Arrangements were handled by Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home.
