Joel Bloom, adored husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, professor and friend to many, died Monday, March 30. He was 84 years old.
Joel was born and raised in Chicago, the son of Ruth and Morris Bloom. He was a swimming and tennis athlete at Von Steuben High School and went on to play varsity tennis at Northern Illinois University. It was there that he began coaching and working as an athletic trainer—experiences that sparked a lifelong commitment to the health, performance, and well-being of others.
That passion became the foundation of his career. Joel earned his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin before moving his family to Houston, where he spent more than four decades as a professor at the University of Houston. He taught sports medicine, human anatomy, and biomechanics, authored numerous professional publications, and mentored generations of students.
Affectionately known as “Doc” by his students and colleagues, Joel was a beloved teacher and advisor who also supported the University’s track and field, baseball, swimming and football programs with biomechanical guidance and consulting. He earned numerous awards for his excellence in teaching, mentorship, and service over the course of his career. His work in the classroom reflected not only his expertise, but his genuine interest in helping others grow stronger, healthier, and more confident — a legacy he furthered by establishing the Joel Bloom Endowed Scholarship for undergraduate students in the University of Houston College of Education.
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He brought that same commitment into clinical settings, working at Koala Health and Wellness Centers, where he administered strength and post-operative testing for spine, knee, hip, and back conditions, and conducted running gait and cycling mechanics assessments. He was invited to contribute his expertise to an Olympic committee, helping swimmers improve performance and speed. He also contributed to pioneering work in fitness, developing Water Exercise Therapy (W.E.T.) for arthritic patients, and co-founding Cyclistics, an indoor cycling certification program for fitness professionals.
His tenor voice could be heard above all others at his temple, Beth Israel, and his curiosity spanned from Civil War history to model trains. He was an avid reader, rode a bicycle well into his 70s, and was a devoted—and proudly insufferable—fan of the Chicago Bears. Most of all, he was fiercely loyal to every University of Houston athletic team and deeply valued the relationships he built with Cougar athletes over many decades.
Above all else, Joel loved his wife, Risa, and enjoyed participating in the lives of his children and grandchildren. He was an unmatched punster, a reluctant adopter of the “magic phone,” and began every birthday — starting in childhood — with ice cream and Wheaties. His family will always try to emulate his voice as the “Angel of Death” at Passover seders.
In addition to his wife, Risa, Joel is survived by his sons, Jonathan (Patty) and Douglas (Lisa); brother-in-law David Mangurten (sister Brucene z’’l); stepchildren Samantha (Steve) Szeszycki, Brandon (Penny) Moore, and Rachel Baskett; grandchildren, Rebecca (Jacob Letwat), Matthew, and Sara Bloom, Taylor Moore, Cheryl Bedsole (Micah), Riggin Baskett, Keegan Baskett, Rebecca Bartley and Nicole Snyder; and several nieces, nephews and step-great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held Friday, April 3 at 10 a.m. in the chapel at Beth Israel Memorial Garden, 1101 Antoine Drive, Houston, TX 77055. Shiva will immediately follow at 4320 Holt Street in Bellaire.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Joel Bloom Endowed Scholarship Fund at the University of Houston, PO Box 867, Houston TX 77001-0867, The Jewish Federation of St. Louis, Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School or the organization of your choice.
