Daniel Blank

Daniel Blank was born in Albany, New York on February 18, 2022, and was raised in da Bronx.  After graduating from Ben Franklin High School, He apprenticed with his Uncle Izzie Rogosin, who owned a plumbing business.

At the age of 19, Dan was drafted into the army to help defend our country during World War 2.  Dan served in the Aleutian Islands.  He was accepted into Officers Candidate School with the intention of becoming a pilot; however, the Battle of the Bulge changed his orders, along with many others.  Dan returned to the states with an honorable discharge, an injury, and medals.  

He settled in Washington, DC where he began working for the U.S. Department of Labor.  In February 1950, he attended a Jewish Community dance where he met Florence Pargament, who was studying to be a concert pianist.  Dan dropped his comb, Florence picked it up, and he asked her to dance. Four months later on June 25, 1950, Dan and Florence were married in Rabbi Wilamofsky’s study in Washington, DC.  Dan and Florence celebrated 55 years together until her passing in 2005. Dan never wanted to date again.  He said that once he met Florence, she was the only girl for him.

One of Dan’s work accomplishments was creating a Summer in the Parks Program to keep children off the Inner City, DC streets.  He set up basketball hoops, volleyball nets, and baseball equipment at the various Inner City Parks and Recreation locations. It was a major success; and no doubt that Dan was responsible for many of the NBA and MLB players coming out of Washington, DC in the late 1950s and 1960s.

Dan was an amazing tennis player, who wore a back brace, elbow and knee supports.  He’d spend five hours on the courts at a time, and usually won.  Dan never let that war injury get in the way of playing his favorite sport.  And he was a really good tennis player!

Dan also had an amazing sense of humor, which he shared with those close to him.  He would do anything for his family, and thought nothing of changing poopie diapers on his children or grandchildren.  Dan also loved dogs, and learned to love cats as well for Florence’s sake.  His eyes would light up when a therapy pet entered his apartment.

And he made the best french toast, hot cereal, a great meatloaf and salmon croquettes; and could knock back a bag of chocolates with the best chocoholics!

After Florence’s death, Dan decided to take piano lessons.  He loved practicing, and would often  “Some day I’m gonna play Carnegie Hall.”  Lessons were cut short when his neuropathy numbed his fingers.  It was very frustrating for Dan to have one of his basic needs taken from him, i.e. the ability to communicate with the world by having his hearing devices properly placed in his ears.  His daughter tried to help the situation by offering in-service programs for the senior living staff, as well as ongoing help for anyone who needed more intense or repeated instruction.

Dan is survived by his daughter Sheila, his son Michael, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.  In lieu of flowers, donations will lovingly be taken by Disabled American Veterans (DAV); or the 100% No-Kill animal shelters in Rockville (MCHumane.org) or Frederick, MD 

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