In Memory of Jay Lawrence Bloom

Obituary

Jay Lawrence Bloom was born November 19, 1955 at the old St. Luke's Hospital on Whitesboro St., Utica, NY to Irving L. and Shona Sitrin Bloom.

He graduated from Kemble School, UFA, '73, studied/partied at Boston University for two years, and earned an SU degree in Public Relations/Journalism from Utica College, '77. While at UC, he was a member of the Fencing Team, Tangerine Staff (reporter/ad sales), and a Summer Intern in the WUTR-TV Newsroom.

He entered the workforce at 13 as a summertime Plumbers Apprentice/Handyman for his Dad's company. Throughout high school and UC, he worked in Maintenance/Construction/Landscaping at Walsh Apts. and 106 Memorial Parkway.

Upon graduating UC, Jay worked for the Pawlinga Administration at Utica's City Hall as Promotions Coordinator and then Acting Director of Tourism & Trade in preparation for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. During this period he was the Oneida County Coordinator for the Harrison J. Goldin Campaign for NYS Comptroller.

He would remain active politically, later traveling on the Union jet across NYS for six weeks with Mario M. Cuomo during his first gubernatorial campaign. Jay also enjoyed flying across the country with Kerry Kennedy, Jesse Jackson, Eleanor Mondale, Chrystal Lee Sutton (the real-life Norma Rae), among other colorful personalities.

After 1 1/2 years at City Hall, Jay became PR Director, Spokesperson, and Managing Editor for the then 40,000 member UFCW Local One, AFL-CIO-CLC, for nearly twenty years.

He was proud to have been elected to three 2-year terms as Vice President of the International Labor Communications Association, AFL-CIO-CLC, Washington DC; Vice President of the Union Label Department of NYS, AFL-CIO, and Trustee of the Union Benefit Funds. He was selected as a U.S. Trade Union Representative, living in the former Soviet Union for nearly a month. He enjoyed traveling to 43 States and nine Countries for business and pleasure.

He was later involved in several successful and unsuccessful endeavors.

At one time, he served on the Board of Directors of United/Upstate Cerebral Palsy, and The Jewish Community Center. He was also an Arbitrator for the CNY BBB and received the M.V. Easter Seals Society Volunteer of the Year award. For seven years, Jay organized and served as M.C. of the Holiday Season Celebration for Special Needs Students in his local school district.

He always appreciated and felt blessed that he was able to retire at 53 by choice and ability, offering Jay many healthy, drama-free years to relax and enjoy himself everyday.

He loved being on-call as an Uber-Dad before his sons purchased their cars, to read, enjoy fast- and fine-foods, landscape his Sauquoit property, golf, watch movies, cook, follow politics/current events, and, most of all, spend time and conversation with his sons. He also loved cruising in his 1979 MGB with Josh and Noah.

At one time, Jay was married to Cindy (Daley) Bloom. He leaves his sons Irving Joshua (Vernon Center) and Robert Noah (New Hartford); sister Rhonda (Peter) O'Connor (Texas); step brothers Michael (Catherine) Cominsky (Old Forge); Daniel Cominsky (Nevada); step sister Clair (James) May (Australia); step mother Bette Bloom (New Hartford); and nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A burial service will be held at the House of Israel Cemetery, Wood Road, Whitesboro, at 10 am on Friday, December 6. Arrangements are with Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral and Cremation Services, 13 Oxford Rd., New Hartford.

Kindly honor Jay by doing what he truly enjoyed most: Putting a smile on someone's face through humor, kindness and generosity.

For online expressions of sympathy go to fwefh.com.