Bleich Turned 90 with Pickleball Party at JCC
Dr. Allan Bleich was celebrated by young and old as he entered his tenth decade.
Retired physician Dr. Allan Bleich soaked in the admiration and good wishes on Sunday, Sept. 14 in one of his “second homes”- the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s (MJCCA) pickleball facility.
As an amazing nonagenarian, Bleich is known on and off the court for his good manners and ability to out play folks half his age. Daughter Shana, said, “I’m waiting for him to get old so we can actually beat him. He is super coordinated.”
Neighbor Suzanne Romana Holtz related that Bleich set up a pickleball court on their cul de sac, and well, “He was really an ace and showed no mercy hitting hard balls to me.”
Bleich was featured in one of the first pickleball articles in the Atlanta Jewish Times, July 15, 2016, “How I Got Pickled,” noted as one of the mentors when MJCCA pickleball was played indoors in the gym. Bleich, who was 80 at the time, had just returned from knee surgery and was eager to get back into biking and swimming.
About 55 fans showed up for the Sunday, sunny skied brunch buffet held at Cadranel’s Corner overlooking rows of the pickleball courts Bleich had reserved. Several groups were Bleich’s two daughters, their spouses and his seven grandchildren. Many current Toco Hills neighbors came to salute Bleich along with Rabbi Ilan Feldman of Congregation Beth Jacob, his wife, Miriam, Roger Watell and Mike Carter. The latter said, “Dr. Bleich was on my shadow medical team when I went though a medical crisis. He never disparaged other physicians, but he helped me understand what other doctors were talking about. My guess is he’s shadowed hundreds.”
Rabbi Feldman noted, “It’s hard to find someone with his intellectual capacity to also be this nice!” Former partner Dr. Jeff Clarke, whom Bleich had given a pickleball paddle for his retirement, came to salute Allan. Watell counted that he has known Bleich for at least 50 years.
Daughter Sheryl Jones led a toast in front of an AV slideshow with high points of Bleich’s full life. She reveled about her dad’s activities — “book club, LA Fitness,” and lead a rousing “Happy Birthday” song.
Son-in-law Bruce Jones praised his father-in-law as the “best family example,” having difficult decisions being made by asking, “What would Papa do? He is a shining example of husband, and father, patient, kind, and thoughtful, he really cares most about everyone else.”
Allan and wife, Sheila, were featured in the Atlanta Jewish Times, “2024 Love Couples,” reminiscing on how they met in the Department of Radiology at Emory University. Sheila was a radiology tech student. Allan was an intern doing his rotation. At the pickleball party, he boasted about their marriage of 63 years, and recalled a period of several weeks when Sheila had back surgery and Allan took over all the housekeeping duties in addition to his day job.
She said, “He did it all from laundry to dressing me … and we were so blessed to have our two girls 14 years apart!”
Allan’s humble beginnings did not stem from birth with a silver “yad in his hand.” Longtime friend Robert Jotkowitz recalled that Bleich’s Uncle Jack, who had no children, sponsored Allan and his two brothers’ medical education.
A happy man, Allan posed in front of the MJCCA pickleball donation block in his name. He said, “Look at my shirt. ‘I love my wife,’ small print, ‘when she lets me play pickleball.’”
Then, there’s Pirkei Avot Ethics of the Fathers 4:1. “Who is rich? He who is happy with his lot.” Altogether, the Talmud sees contentedness as gratitude, joy, good deeds, and bringing joy to others. Allan till 120!