Zenas Block, 1916-2008: Leaving a gap in our hearts and our town

SALISBURY —  Zenas Block, a veteran of the Board of Finance and founder of the after-school enrichment program SOAR (Seek, Originate, Aim, Reap) at Salisbury Central School, died Friday, Nov. 21.

Block was a New York City native who came later in his life to the Northwest Corner and, with his entrepreneurial ideas and business acumen, notably improved life here for old and young.

An early effort was the creation of one of the first cable television franchises here, called Haystack Cable Vision.

In recent years, he turned his energy toward creating and supporting a fund for after-school programs at Salisbury Central. His goal was to ensure that money was available to enrich the education of young people here; he wanted them to have a chance to learn about and be excited by math, science, languages and more.

In 2000, he approached then-Principal Zbynek Gold with a challenge in the form of a question: If you had unlimited funds, what would you do to make the school the best it could be?

Gold suggested an after-school program; Block agreed but insisted the workshops be truly educational and stimulating; and that they be part of the school but administered separately. Otherwise, he feared, the classes could wind up as a workshop for remedial students or as de facto day care.

The program was an immediate success and classes in everything from journalism to theater to robotics were filled to capacity.

The funds are invested and administered by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation,  and “the program has recognition from students, teachers, parents and administratorsâ€� Block said in an interview at the time.

Block, along with Salisbury resident Ward Belcher, provided much of the fund’s initial capital.

“We believe the quality of a public school is the mirror of the quality of the community,� Block told the Board of Education in 2000. “It affects the future of the community, the people it attracts and the values of the community. Part-time residents without children in the local school benefit from the quality and reputation of the school as it affects the nature of the community they have chosen.�

Block was single-minded in the pursuit of his goals, one reason why he managed to succeed so often where others simply gave up. He was charming and humorous, and another reason for his success was clearly his gift for endearing himself to other people even as he pushed his projects forward.

The affection for Block was evident at the Salisbury town meeting Oct. 22: The town report carries a dedication to him. At the meeting, Board of Finance Chairman Bill Willis had said, “Zenas was a friend, a mentor... and a creative pain in the neck,� to general laughter.

First Selectman Curtis Rand said, “Zenas kept the bar up nice and high, and we all appreciate it.�

Jennifer Law, a teacher at Salisbury Central School, ran the SOAR program for two years. “I also worked with him prior to that on the E=MC2 program, providing opportunities, especially for girls, in science. He was an incredibly passionate man who really believed in helping kids find out who they are, what they can do, where their talents are.

“He was a man who only thought outside the box. He felt if you never tried anything, how could you know if it worked or not?�

Rod Lankler got to know Block when he was chairman of the Luke-Fitting Committee, whose mission was to finalize a site for the transfer station. Block was a committee member. “It was obvious he was a force to be reckoned with,� Lankler said. “My wife suggested I take him to lunch. We had a wonderful time. When he smiled the entire room lit up.

“He would go off the reservation quite often, at least in my opinion, so we’d go to lunch and talk it over. After the committee was finished he asked, ‘Am I ever going to see you again?’ 

“We continued to go to lunch and just drive around, talking. It was such fun, and I learned so much from him.

“Two summers ago, he said ‘I’m worried about the banks going under.’

“I said, ‘What, are you, nuts?’

“He said, ‘No, I think these investment banks have got themselves all screwed up with these crazy mortgages.’ And he was absolutely correct, long before anyone else was talking about it.�

Carl Williams chaired the Board of Finance and had more than a decade of dealings with Block. “Zenas had tremendous financial experience and was deeply concerned about what was best for the town.

“He wanted to examine all the options. He wanted answers to unasked questions, questions some of us hadn’t thought of.�

Wendy Hamilton, a Lakeville resident, worked on the SOAR program with Block for three years. “He was challenging to work with, based on his reputation for brilliance. He kept me on my toes every minute.

“He had endless curiosity — he always asked more questions than he answered, and he’d lean in toward you with these wonderful, sparkling eyes.

“When I think of people in the world I am better for having known, Zenas is at the top of my list.�

A memorial service for Block will be held at the Salisbury School chapel Monday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m. See Page A8 for a full obituary.