Karl "Barney" Bloom

July 15, 1942 - March 24, 2025

Montpelier, VT

Barney died peacefully on March 24th at the McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester VT. He had been diagnosed with dementia in 2021 after having experienced many years of increasing memory loss, confusion and other effects of early dementia.

Barney was born July 15, 1943 in Xenia, Ohio to Karl and Ruth Bloom. His step-brothers, John and Jim, were in their teens when he was born. Xenia with its 1901 courthouse and historic downtown, was similar to Montpelier where Barney and his wife, Darryl, lived for 38 years. Barney loved Montpelier. He served on the Design Review Board and was proud to have been a part of the decisions to refuse a site for MacDonald's, to rebuild the Hubbard Park tower stairs and to require that the then-Chittenden Bank building use actual stone cornices, not plastic(!). He was the Assistant Librarian at the Vermont Historical Society, a Justice of the Peace and a Washington County Side Judge. As Side Judge he oversaw the renovation of the Courthouse Clock Tower. As JP he performed countless marriage ceremonies. He loved the opportunity to officiate a marriage and would go anywhere any time - including the well of the legislature and under a full moon at 1:00 a.m. and his side yard under the pear tree. He loved the Kellogg Hubbard Library and could be seen most days reading the newspapers in his favorite spot. Barney was a member of Beth Jacob synagogue where he served as a member of the Board, the Cemetery and Ritual Committees and as President of the Board.

Barney is survived by his wife Darryl and their two daughters, Deborah Bloom (and her partner Matt Morrissette) and Hannah Bloom (and her partner Matthew Bernstein), and grandchildren, Henry and Leo Morrisette and Isaac and Rivka Bloom.

Darryl would like to acknowledge the loving care he received at Heaton Woods and the compassionate palliative care he received at McClure Miller Respite House. Donations in his honor can be sent to Heaton Woods, 10 Heaton St, Montpelier or McClure Miller Respite House, 111 Colchester Ave, Colchester.