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Memorial services are scheduled for Saturday for Brad W. Blocker, 48, of Portola Valley, who died Feb. 22 following a skiing accident at Lake Tahoe.
A celebration of life is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at the Woodside Priory Gymnasium, 302 Portola Valley Road in Portola Valley.
A Portola Valley resident since 1976, Mr. Blocker was a litigator with the Carr & Ferrell law firm in Palo Alto for the past eight years, and previously was with Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley in Redwood City.
He received his law degree from Tulane University, where he met his wife, Denise, also a law student. Both graduated in 1986.
Following graduation from Woodside High School, Mr. Blocker played basketball at UCLA, and carried on a lifetime of participation in various sports.
He coached youth basketball, baseball, softball, and Menlo-Atherton Vikings Pop Warner football while raising his family in Portola Valley.
He played in local softball leagues, and was a participant for 22 years with other former college athletes in the highly competitive adult basketball league at Menlo Park’s Burgess Gymnasium.
He was a motorcycle and skiing enthusiast, as well. Among his civic activities, Mr. Blocker was co-president of the Portola Valley Schools Foundation.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Blocker is survived by three children, Lauren, 17; Jessica, 16; and Ryan, 13.
He also leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Barry Blocker of Portola Valley, and four brothers, Todd of Los Altos; Chris of Morgan Hill; Scot of San Francisco; and Brian of Campbell.
A viewing is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Spangler Mortuary, 399 South San Antonio Road in Los Altos.
Brad,
We’ll miss you. Thank you for sharing yourself with us. We will carry your torch in our hearts and never forget our times together. You are an inspiration.
Denise, Lauren, Jessica, and Ryan,
It was an honor to know your husband and father. You’re all a testament to the intelligent, loving, and fun person he was. Know that he will be remembered fondly by all who met him.
Denise, Lauren, Jessica and Ryan,
I was so sorry to hear of Brad’s accident. I will always remember Brad’s energy and positive outlook on life. I will remember your family in my prayers.
Leigh Anne Wall
Mandeville, LA
Denise, Lauren, Jessica, Ryan, and all Blocker Family,
I will remember all the wonderful times we all shared together. It was wonderful to work with all of you and Brad for all of those years. Although I am not near, you are in my thoughts everyday. I love you with all my heart and will never forget what an incredible person, husband and father Brad was.
Denise, Lauren, Jessica and Ryan,
We are sorry to hear about Brad’s accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Denise and family,
Gail and I will miss Brad deeply. All who knew him have suffered a terrible loss, but you most of all.
Chris
Dear Blocker Family
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Your husband/dad coached our son and we know he touched many lives. May you feel comfort from all your friends and family at this time
May you find strength in each other to help you through the days.
You are in our hearts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Lani, Tyler and Cisco
Gail and family,
May you find solace in this difficult time of need. Coach Brad was great with kids. He always came to practice with a smile. He knew football and shared his knowledge. My son, Marcus learned a lot from him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Ruben and Marcus Avelar
I remember Brad and you from our Law School days and my deepest sympathies go out to you Denise and your family. Brad will be missed by all he met.
Denise
My heartfelt sympathies are with you and your entire family at this time of your lose. It has been a privilege knowing you over the years. I’ve come to admire you, your family, and your values. May you know you have a community of friends who will always love and support you.
Dear Denise, Lauren, Jessica and Ryan,
You continue to be in our prayers throughout these days. May God grant you strength, comfort and most of all his presence through this difficult time.
Denise,
I am so very sorry for your loss. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Nancy Houchins
Dear Denise, Lauren, Jessica and Ryan,
I’m so sorry for your loss. If I can do anything
to help, please let me know. My most hart felt
prayers are with you and your family.
Stephen West
Ladera Auto Works
Dear Blocker Family.
Brad was a wonderful spirit and gift to all who knew him. We are all lucky to have shared even just a moment of life with him and he will live on in all our memories, hearts and souls.
Sincerely,
Matthew Holder
I was fortunate enough to come to know and love Brad as his
Sigma Chi “little sister” at UCLA having met him through my brother, John. As their friendship progressed, Brad continued to treat me as a little sister and I felt comforted and protected by both Brad and John on the huge campus. The whole Jeter family is absolutely heartsick at your loss. Please know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers.
We are heart-broken and saddened by your loss. How blessed you were to have had such a wonderful husband and father.
Please know that we are here to help in any way we can. Our prayers and good energy are with you four during the rough road ahead.
Love, Randy Gard & Lara Pai
Dear Blocker Family,
I was really shocked to know this loss of Brad who is one of the outstanding outside counsel I have worked with.
We definitely lose a great support in this regard.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Jack Tsai, VIA Technologies, Taiwan
Aunt Denise, Lauren, Jessie, Ryan..
I am so sorry about Uncle Brad. I am sorry i can not be there for you but my heart is reaching out to you from louisiana. Uncle brad was a great man. He will be greatly missed. Aunt Denise you are one of the strongest women i know and your strength will get everyone through this time. I will be praying for you and the whole enitre blocker family. I love you aunt denise, uncle brad, lauren, jessie, and ryan.
Sincerely.
Brandy Savoie Lopinto
Luling/Amite, Louisiana
Dear Denise,
Our deep sympathy goes out to you and your family in this tragic time.
Love,
Peggy and Don
My dear Denise: I was so shocked and saddened today to learn of Brad’s tragic loss. I am so, so sorry. I feel a special heart-break for you given my own recent parallel experience. I wish no one would have to go through this! I am going to be praying that you and your family receive extra strength, courage, support and love in the coming days. I will always remember the great love that you and Brad had for each other–that special twinkle in each other’s eyes when you were together–and I know that such a great love will live on forever.
Hugs from afar,
JoAnne
Dear Denise, Lauren, Jessica and Ryan,
Keep in mind that your Sweet Heart and Daddy packed more life — a good life — into 48 years than most people do in many more years. Recall the good times. There were so many.
‘Loved Brad. Love You.
Bill, Helen and Gabrielle
Denise, Lauren, Jessica and Ryan
We are shocked and saddened to learn of this terrible news. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dear Blocker Family,
During the short time that Brad and I crossed paths at Carr & Ferrell, I found Brad to be a genuine, affable, forthright and respectful man, having the type of personal attributes deserving of true respect. I was of course shocked and saddened to hear the news, and it is the nature of Brad’s character that compelled me to write this note. My sympathy and prayers go out to you all.
We are sorry to hear of your loss. Coach Brad was great with the kids and always had a positive outlook on things. Know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. He will be missed by all.
Dear Denise & Kids, and entire Blocker Family,
I had not seen him since high school until a few years ago when I
had the extreme privilege to lace them up with Brad at PCCC for lunch time basketball. He truly was a gift to us for those who played with him. He helped us to be better than we were, and he would simply demand that from us, once he stepped on the court. I am truly saddened of his passing. I know what it is like to lose a father at a young age. God bless you all. He will always be with you.
Dear Denise,
Brad coached my daughter Beth in basketball. He made her a lover of the sport and he made it fun for all the kids. They all felt good about themselves the sport and their coach. She still speaks of it fondly as her best ever time in sports. I am sure she is not the only one who felt that way. All who knew him and his wonderful family are mourning with you today.
I am heartbroken at your lost.
Sincerely,
Dorothy Polash
Denise, Lauren, Jessica, and Ryan…
I only got to meet and spend time with you and your amazing family once and the time that we got to spend together was great! Our thoughts and prayers are with your family as you go through the grieving process. I know my dad was Ryan’s age when he lost his dad so Dad knows how feels. Being a 16 year old as Jessica is, I can only imagine the pain that she and Lauren are experiencing. My heart was touched when I read the article about Ryan’s basketball game. It was amazing and Brad would have been very proud of him. Love you all and I hope that we get to see each other in the future! Praying for you always. With love, Megan Coakley
Denise,lauren,Jessica,and Ryan….we are sorry for your loss. Your family in in our thoughts and prayers. Brad was one of a kind. He will be missed.
Respectfully,
Ron and Joanna Ramies
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Blocker Family. I went to school with Brad when we were sophomores at Terre Haute South Vigo High School (IN) back in 1976. He was a great kid back then and was motivated and mature beyond his years. He was a real good young player back then and he was on the varsity as a sophomore which was a little unusual.
I talked with Brad a few years ago and he told me about his wonderful family and how active he still was. It was great to hear from him.
We all leave this world. Unfortunately, Brad left too early for us but I am sure that God plan for him was manifested. Without a doubt, Brad made many many positive contributions to mankind.
He will be missed by many.
Mike Saylor
Varsity Basketball Coach/Physical Education Teacher
South Vigo High School
Terre Haute, Indiana
I came on here in regard of the accident with Keith And Robert.. but now that i see this i am in shock. He was a great guy. Never paid him much respect.. but seeing as he was coaching.. i never really saw it necessary to kiss the butt of a man telling me to run lines….
But know that he was a truly great guy.
RIP
Denise:
I only learned of this terrible, tragic news yesterday, while going through the Tulane Law School Magazine. My heart goes out to you and your children.
I am certain that in his short life, Brad deeply touched most of those he came into contact with. His positive and giving spirit will live on through those people, but nowhere moreso than through you and your children.
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers,
Laura
Princeton, New Jersey
Dear Blocker Family,
I am very sorry to learn of Brad’s fatal accident. I have thought about Brad intermittantly over the years and learned of his death just recently. I have joyful memories of Brad over the past 39 years. I was a teammate with Brad on the Smith Alsop Little League baseball team in Terre Haute. He was a year younger than me. While at Terre Haute South we had similar interests in basketball, both playing for Coach Otis Sparks a year apart. I went on to earn my BA from Tulane, and it was on a Tulane basketball court at the Fieldhouse a few years later where we met again. While at that time I had not seen him in nearly 9 years, we recognized each other instantly and we had a warm but brief exchange, him telling me of his studies at Tulane Law. That was when I last saw him. I know that his forthright spirit of optimism lives on in all of us. I give my prayers and my sincere best wishes for your family,
Pat McDavid