Richard R. Block; lawyer was 69

RICHARD R. Block was a well-known figure on South Street, where he enjoyed the ambience of the city's famous artsy neighborhood and where he would stop off at the Bean for coffee.

He was a well-rounded guy whose tastes ran from cutting-edge live music to films and theater, to politics, the Phillies and race horses, to name a few.

Rich, who had a long and distinguished career in law and public service, died Monday. He was 69 and lived in Center City.

"Richard was a character, a brilliant one, but clearly a character in the best sense of the word," said Harriet Lessy, former Daily News business writer who now has her own firm, Buzz Communications.

"He loved living near South Street. He always admired a good-looking young woman, even if from afar, and read every word every day in the Daily News."

After leaving private law practice, Rich joined the district attorney's office as director of community relations. He made two unsuccessful tries for public office, running for Congress in 1968 and Common Pleas Court judge in 1971.

He served as election day chairman to re-elect Sen. Arlen Specter and was campaign chairman for Joan Specter in her successful re-election bid to Philadelphia City Council.

Rich was named by Governor Rendell as a commissioner on the Workers' Compensation Appeal Board, the position he held at his death.

He represented the legal profession on the Pennsylvania Commission on Child Support and was appointed by the state Supreme Court to the Disciplinary Board's Hearing Committee.

He was an arbitrator in the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Lawyer Dispute Resolution Program, and was a frequent lecturer for the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar Associations.

Richard was born in West Oak Lane. He graduated from Central High School and Dickinson College and received his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1962. He became a partner in the law firm of Meltzer and Schiffrin and later Beitch & Block. He specialized in family law.

Throughout his life, he was involved in many civic causes. He served on the board of Jewish Family Service and as a vice president of the American Jewish Congress. He was also active with Big Brothers of America.

"He was the kind of guy you could talk to about anything," Harriet Lessy said. "He was a terrific non-judgmental sounding board."

He is survived by his son, Jeffrey Benjamin Block, and a close friend, Rose Murr Wellens, whose children, Kaitlin and Jake, always considered him their grandfather.

Services: Memorial service at 5 p.m. today at the Fuel House, 249 Arch St. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org) or A Better Chance (www.abetterchance.

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