A retiree to Corrales since 2015, Ron Bloch died unexpectedly on December 28. He was 77. The Missouri native joined the Peace Corps in its early days after graduating from St. Louis University in 1966. While serving in that capacity in Venezuela, he was drafted into the Army during the war in Vietnam. Stationed to South Korea, he had responsibilities for nuclear weapons. After leaving the military, he went into human resources, primarily in the Boston area. In his retirement, one of his main projects was coaching returning Peace Corps volunteers. He was proud to have helped more than 4,000 of them.
Bloch was active in Corrales’ Village in the Village and the Corrales Arts Center. He turned his backyard into a nature preserve where he regularly fed birds and rabbits; he enjoyed watching coyotes and bobcats as they passed by.
He is survived by wife Kathleen Brown, daughter Catherine Bloch and son Christopher Bloch. A celebration of his life will be announced at a later date. The family suggests memorial donations to New Mexico PBS or to the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA.org).