Block, Leonard

Leonard Block passed away peacefully May 5, 2010, at age 
98. He was born Oct. 20, 1911, in Lincoln, Neb., and moved 
to Brooklyn, N.Y., at the age of four. A born salesman, as a 
teenager he sold enough magazine subscriptions to buy his 
mother one of the first electric refrigerators in Brooklyn. 
Forever the adventurer, at 18, he drove a 1928 Harley with 
a sidecar from New York to Seattle, where he was given the 
keys to the city in recognition of the journey. He married 
Ada Lempert in 1935, and they were married for 62 years, 
until her death in 1999. Lenny opened his first furniture 
store in New Jersey in the 1930s and kept the business until 
1956 when the yearning for the wide open spaces of the 
west brought him and his family to Las Vegas. He and his 
brother, Paul, thus began the building of the largest 
furniture store in Nevada, named Blockbusters Furniture at 
1510 S. Main St. (which is now called Sal's Furniture). Lenny 
settled the family into a beautiful home on the third tee of 
the Desert Inn Golf Course. Tiring of retail sales, he and Ada 
took a freighter to the Far East. After three weeks of 
sightseeing, she returned home and he made his way to 
Australia by motor scooter. He needed a warm lightweight 
rain jacket and when he couldn't find what was needed, he 
designed one. It worked so well, that he decided to 
manufacture it and thus his new career in the "rag trade" 
emerged. His company, Zeelander, flourished and he was 
one of the first exhibitors at the MAGIC Show. Lenny was a 
mentor to many young salesmen, who would stop by his 
booth to see the legendary 95-year-old man who was 
known for putting together big deals. He gave up his 
business four years ago, but continued work in the clothing 
business buying and selling odd lots and discounts for The 
Dickie Company. Lenny was still playing golf a month ago, 
which was his passion. He will be missed by his daughters, 
Gale Blanchard and Ruth Duer; grandchildren, Nathan, Neil, 
Lorraine and Brian; their spouses, Winnie and Michael; and 
great-grandson, Justin. At his request, there will be no 
services, but later on there will be a party to celebrate his 
life. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to a 
charity of your choice.

Published in Las Vegas Review-Journal on May 16, 2010