On June 22, 2023, Daphne Iris Bloomberg, 80 of Potomac, Maryland passed away surrounded by her family including her beloved spouse of 58 years, James Ralph Bloomberg.

Daphne was born in 1942, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Her mother Daphne Iris Bartlett was a Newfoundlander and her father Joseph Dzwonkowski an American.  The oldest of 23 Bartlett first cousins, Daphne maintained life-long relationships with her extended Bartlett family.  During her formative years, she moved between the U.S. and Newfoundland graduating from Most Holy Rosary School in Freshwater, Newfoundland in eleventh grade.

With a love of Newfoundland indelibly imprinted in her soul, Daphne attended Boston University in her freshman year at 17 years old.  It was at Boston University that fate, along with her megawatt smile, led her to meet her future spouse, Ralph Bloomberg.   It is also where she ignited her lifelong passion for democratic politics volunteering for John F. Kennedy's presidential campaign.  She later graduated in 1964 from Niagara University with a B.S. in Business Economics and minors in English, Philosophy, and Accounting.

Life would ultimately lead Daphne and Ralph to their home of 53 years in Potomac, Maryland where they raised their two children Valmore Louis Bloomberg and Lauren Page Layman.  She treasured her five grandsons Garrett Bloomberg, Joshua Bloomberg, Justin Bloomberg, Kyle Layman, and Blake Layman.

While raising her family, she managed her own interior design firm, Iris Design Associates.  She was active in the Washington Chapter of International Furnishings and Design Association, serving as President multiple times among other leadership roles.

Daphne's true passion was serving as a Community Volunteer in local Democratic party grassroot politics. She was recognized as a powerhouse in Montgomery County both politically and personally – a mentor, advisor, and central figure in countless political campaigns.  If you wanted to run for democratic office in Montgomery County, you would be smart to first call Daphne.

Selected leadership highlights of which she was particularly proud include:

♦ Maryland Elector to the United States Electoral College for Kerry/Edwards

♦ Maryland Clinton/Gore Delegate to the Democratic National Convention

♦ Co-Chair Montgomery County Democratic Forum

♦  Leadership Montgomery Graduate

♦ Chair of District 15 Democratic Caucuses

♦ President of Women's Democratic Club of Montgomery County (two terms)

♦ Member of Appellate Judiciary Nominating Commission Chaired by Governor Harry Hughes appointed by Governor Paris Glendenning

♦ Political Action Chair of Harriet's List

♦ Montgomery County Democrat Volunteer of the Year

♦ Executive Board of Jewish Community Relations Council

Beyond her community activism, it was the friendships she cultivated through her many forms of community engagement that Daphne valued most of all.  Her family is deeply touched by the immediate outpouring of condolences they have received. It is testament to the profound impact she had on the many lives she touched in Montgomery County.

Her first commitment was always to her husband and lifelong partner Ralph with whom she shared an enduring love.  She converted to Judaism when she married Ralph, adopting her new faith with zeal, including celebrating her own Bat Mitzvah as an adult.

Daphne is survived by her husband James Ralph Bloomberg, children Valmore Bloomberg (Roberta) and Lauren Layman (Scott) and her five grandsons.

Funeral service will be held on Monday, June 26, 2023, 10:30a.m. at Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb St NW, Washington, DC 20016 with interment to follow at Garden of Remembrance Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the National Brain Tumor Society .