Jacques Bloch

Jacques Bloch, founding president of ASHFSA (American Society of Hospital Foodservice Administrators) and the only member of the healthcare foodservice community to win the prestigious IFMA Gold Plate Award, passed away September 20 at age 91.

Bloch worked in foodservice his entire career, starting out in restaurants and going on to spend 37 years as director of the nutrition department at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. In 1982 he was awarded the coveted Gold Plate Award from IFMA, which he viewed as recognition of change in the healthcare foodservice segment.

“We kept Jacques in mind two years ago when AHF created our lifetime achievement award — the award recognizes members who best exemplify the leadership and spirit of Jacques Bloch and Angelo Gagliano, the founders of our legacy organizations,” says current President Patti Oliver of the Association of Healthcare Foodservices (AHF).

Donations in Bloch's memory can be made to the American Ex-Prisoners of War Association at www.axpow.org. (Bloch was a POW during World War II.)