Gertrude Hecht Block's Obituary
Long-time Gainesville resident Gertrude Hecht Block passed away on August 31 at the age of 96. Born in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, Gertrude grew up in Hazleton, PA and attended Penn State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in economics, was on the debate team, won membership into Phi Beta Kappa, and met her future husband, Seymour. She and Seymour moved to Gainesville in 1944 when he was appointed to the University of Florida Chemical Engineering faculty. Gertrude joined the League of Women Voters and became active in civic life, hosting a weekly radio show where she interviewed local and state politicians. She also played Tournament Bridge. These two hobbies, politics and bridge, remained strong interests of hers throughout her life.
When her daughters were in high school, Gertrude decided to pursue advanced studies at the University of Florida, switching her field of study to English, and concentrating in linguistics. After completing her graduate studies, she began teaching English and Humanities, but a chance conversation with a law professor who was unhappy with his students’ writing led to the Dean of UF Law College calling her to ask if she would assume a temporary appointment there. That temporary stay led to an unexpected lifetime career. Gertrude audited law courses to understand the content of students’ assignments, soon becoming an expert in legal writing. At first, her role was to advise and tutor students, but realizing the extent of the need for improved writing skills, she established a writing clinic which proved enormously popular with students and faculty alike. Over the years, many law professors, along with students, came to her to ask her to edit their writing.
Gertrude published extensively in scholarly law and linguistic journals. She wrote a handbook, Effective Legal Writing for Law Students and Lawyers, the first guide of its kind, which is currently in its fifth edition. She was called upon to serve as an expert witness in law cases where the meaning of language was in dispute. She also wrote columns—a kind of “Dear Abby” for lawyers—for five state Bar journals and continued writing for three of them until 2013 when her husband’s ill health led her to retire. In each of these columns, she answered questions from lawyers about the correct use of grammar, often explaining to them how changes in popular usage make once ungrammatical expressions acceptable. When lawyers wrote her, they often told her that her column was the first thing they turned to when they opened their monthly journal.
Gertrude’s professional work was greatly interesting and satisfying, but her family was the most important thing in her life. She and Seymour were married for 72 years, and the romance that began when they met four years before their marriage lasted throughout their lives together. Seymour once wrote to one of his granddaughters on the occasion of his wedding anniversary: “I don’t need to celebrate. Every day we are together is a celebration.” Gertrude and Seymour were regularly seen walking together holding hands, and one of their favorite activities was dancing—ballroom, swing dancing, and round dancing. Gertrude adored spending time with her daughters and their families, and said she felt blessed to have lived long enough to have the pleasure of watching her four grandchildren grow up and her two great-granddaughters play together.
Gertrude is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Sally and Jerry Stein of Gainesville and Judy and Ted McLaughlin of Needham, MA; grandchildren Katherine Subhani and husband Noman Subhani of Orlando, Frances Eggleston of Gainesville, Kerry McLaughlin of San Francisco, and Peter McLaughlin of Portland, ME; and great-grandchildren Andaleesa Eggleston and Maya Subhani. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Gertrude’s name to the Friends of the Micanopy Library for Micanopy Tutoring, a tutoring program for at-risk children: P.O. Box 476, Micanopy, Florida 32667, or to the Nature Conservancy, www.nature.org. Arrangements under care of WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME DOWNTOWN, 404 N Main Street.
What’s your fondest memory of Gertrude?
What’s a lesson you learned from Gertrude?
Share a story where Gertrude's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Gertrude you’ll never forget.
How did Gertrude make you smile?