A devoted community member, father and public servant.

That is how the Honorable Alan N. Bloch is remembered by his family and friends after 92 years of life and 45 years as a United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Judge Bloch died on Sunday from natural causes at his home in Scott surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Elaine Admur Bloch, his two daughters Rebecca Lando and Carolyn Bloch, and his son Evan Bloch, along with his six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

“The legal profession may remember him as tough, but friends and family knew him as caring, happy, and always positive,” the Bloch family said in Judge Bloch’s obituary.

Born on April 12, 1932, Judge Bloch graduated from Allderdice High School in Squirrel Hill and obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1958. He earned his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh before serving in the Army, the Pennsylvania National Guard and the Air Force Reserves.

Beginning his career in law, Judge Bloch was a partner at the Wirtzman, Sikov & Love firm in Pittsburgh. He then left to start a law firm with his long time friend Jim Flaherty.

During this time, Judge Bloch was co-chair of the planning committee that oversaw Three Rivers Stadium being brought to the North Shore in 1970 and became vice president of the city-county stadium authority.

Seeing this project come to life partly inspired his daughter Rebecca, of Fox Chapel, who is a partner at Buchanan Ingersoll, to become a commercial real estate lawyer, she said.

“One of the things that I have always said about my own career is that seeing something physical, some new thing come out of what you do, not just trading paper around, is gratifying,” she continued. “Now seeing what's happened on the North Shore as a result of those things that started very long ago when he [Judge Bloch] was involved I find to be rewarding.” Three Rivers Stadium gave way to two new stadiums for the Pirates and Steelers, which both remain on the North Shore.

Judge Bloch was also on the Make-A-Wish of Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia’s Board of Directors. This is where current Pittsburgh Chief U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak really got to see Judge Bloch as a “father and husband,” he said.

“I saw a new side of Judge Bloch that I didn't see in the courtroom, and that was one of very genuine warmth and compassion in seeking to make wishes happen for children who were facing life-threatening illnesses, supporting them and their families,” he continued. “Seeing Judge Bloch’s engagement as a board member working and pitching in to make those wishes happen is not what you normally think of as the day-to-day work of a judge.”

Judge Bloch’s career not only impacted one of his children’s life path’s, but all of them.

His son Evan Bloch, of Mt. Lebanon, is now assistant general counsel and litigator for PPG, and his other daughter Carolyn Bloch has worked just a few floors below her father in Pittsburgh as an assistant U.S. attorney for the last 35 years as he remained a senior district judge.

Ms. Bloch, of Shadyside, said that while her job is much different from what her father did in the courts, they both shared an interest in criminal cases — “We could bond over things that we understood that other people don’t experience through their work.”

Judge Bloch was nominated to be a judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania by former President Jimmy Carter in 1979. He spearheaded a number of Third Circuit Court initiatives, including serving on the Judicial Conference’s Court Security Committee and was a chair on a joint task force that made recommendations regarding the appointment of defense counsel in capital punishment cases.

During his 45 years of service, Judge Bloch oversaw thousands of civil, criminal and federal trials. Some of the most notable cases dealt with the 1994 USAir Flight 427 crash in Beaver County and a company CEO fraudster.

Following the crash of Flight 427, USAirways had alleged that the rudders on the plane manufactured by Parker-Hannifin Corporation had failed during the flight, making the company partially liable.

USAirways sought reimbursement for the payments it made to settle the claims that came out of the deaths of the 132 passengers and crew, along with other damages. After a jury trial in 2002, overseen by Judge Bloch, USAirways won its case.

Judge Bloch sentenced Gregory J. Podlucky, former CEO of Le-Nature, to 20 years in prison on his convictions for fraud, money laundering and income tax evasion in 2011. Prosecutors said Podlucky used new loans to pay off older ones, along with forging documents and falsifying records, among others.

Outside of his court proceedings, Judge Bloch was a member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, an organization that recognizes leading attorneys and judges in the region.

Judge Hornak said that Judge Bloch was dedicated to helping younger attorneys “hone their skills so they could be the best they could be for their clients.” The Academy’s Annual Retreat Program, which Judge Bloch founded, was renamed in his honor.

“I think that was a hallmark of his judicial career,” Judge Hornak said. “The organization's annual trial lawyers retreat, which would feature presentations by some of the top trial lawyers and respected judges from around the country, was Judge Bloch’s favorite place to be.”

Senior District Judge Bloch loved his time in public service, which is why he never retired from the post. He had a reputation for being tough but fair, holding himself and the court to the highest standards.

Mrs. Lando said that “being a judge was central to his identity, but he was very family oriented.”

Raising his three children with his wife in Mt. Lebanon, Judge Bloch would regularly attend community events, spend time with his big group of friends and go to his children’s different afterschool activities. He lived in the same house for 40 years in Mt. Lebanon before moving to Scott in 2013, Mrs. Lando said.

“He was one of the most positive people and he had a good sense of humor,” Ms. Bloch said. “But the most enduring quality was his ability to see everything with the glass half full.”

First Published: October 9, 2024, 3:32 p.m.