Donald A. Bloom

WORCESTER/HOLDEN - Donald A. Bloom of Holden died Monday, December 24, 2012 with his wife by his side in St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, as the result of a heart attack. He leaves behind his loving wife of twenty-one years, Elaine (Willey) Bloom; his sister, Barbara and her husband Charles Greene of Santa Barbara, California; his nephews, Douglas Greene and family of Connecticut and Scott Greene and family of California; and his one surviving aunt, Irene Bloom of Naples, Florida.

Donald was born in Worcester in 1941, son of Solomon S. and Helen (Adams) Bloom, and spent his life in Worcester before retiring to Holden in 2004. He graduated from Worcester Academy in 1959, Bowdoin College in 1963, and received his MALS at Wesleyan University in 1967. He made his career as a high school teacher of mathematics, especially enjoying the teaching of geometry and advanced placement calculus. He taught for three years at Bartlett High School in Webster and then thirty-seven years at his alma mater, Worcester Academy, and finally almost two years as calculus instructor at St. Peter Marian High School in Worcester.

For more than twenty years he was also very involved coaching student mathletes to compete in the Worcester County Math League (WOCOMAL) and the Western Mass. Association of Regional Mathematics Leagues (ARML). He was elected to the Massachusetts Hall of Fame for Mathematics Educators in 2004 and inducted into the Worcester Academy Hall of Fame in 2009. During vacations he and his wife enjoyed travel, music and museums. He loved to learn almost as much as he loved to teach.

A celebration of Don’s life will be held in the spring of 2013. In lieu of flowers, donations in Don’s memory may be made to Worcester Academy, 81 Providence Street, Worcester, MA 01604. Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden is assisting the family with arrangements. To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.milesfuneralhome.com