[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 39 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3435-S3436]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                MEMORIALIZING WILLIAM LEONARD BLOCKSTEIN

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to William 
Leonard Blockstein who died last week at age 69.
  Bill was professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison 
following a notable career there. Prior to his retirement in 1991, he 
was the Edward Kremers professor of pharmacy in the School of Pharmacy, 
clinical professor of Preventive Medicine in the Medical School, and 
professor and director of the health sciences unit of university 
extension.
  [[Page S3436]] Bill published over 400 papers on pharmacy education, 
continuing professional education, health planning, and consumer health 
education, and edited or coedited 15 books. In 1985, he received the 
American Pharmaceutical Association's Joseph P. Remington Medal, 
pharmaceutical science's most prestigious award.
  But as distinguished a scientist as he was, Bill was an even better 
human being.
  As one of his colleagues from the University of Wisconsin noted, Bill 
was a good friend to everyone. Marge Sutinen, the women he planned to 
marry this July, said that Bill was one of the most charitable men in 
the community, and indeed, his charity and friendship had no limits.
  I had known Bill for years when I asked him to be the first senior 
intern in my Senate office, and he kindly consented. Though he did 
spend time advising me on health care issues--a subject on which he had 
considerable expertise--as many Members understand, working in a Senate 
office, especially as an intern, does not always involve the most 
glamorous of work. Bill, a nationally recognized scientist and emeritus 
professor at the University of Wisconsin pitched in on every task, 
cheerily helping out younger staffers and interns with any and all 
office chores.
  Bill loved art, and was an avid supporter of the arts. He loved to 
travel, and I understand he was planning to travel to Sweden and Great 
Britain later this year. He was active in Friendship Force, a group 
that combined his altruism and desire for fellowship with that 
enthusiasm for travel.
  He enjoyed being out with people, and especially loved to go dancing. 
He found pleasure in the cloths he wore--often proudly sporting a new 
tie or shirt around the office to the delight of the rest of us.
  Bill's obvious pleasure in these and other things was contagious. It 
was simply not possible to be in the same room and not be infected by 
his enthusiasm.
  Bill suffered more than his share of personal tragedy, including the 
death of his wife Liesl, killed by a drunk driver in 1986. But 
throughout that and other tragedies, Bill said that it was important to 
celebrate life every day.
  He did just that.
  No one did a better job of living than Bill Blockstein. I shall miss 
him a great deal.


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