Albert Lester Goldblatt

Albert Lester (Al) Goldblatt , a gentle, thoughtful and loving husband, father and grandfather, died peacefully on Saturday, October 15th, at the age of 95. Born in Chicago on December 30, 1915 as the second of five boys, Al was predeceased by his parents, Lilli and Robert Goldblatt, brothers Joe Goldblatt and Ted Goldblatt, and his wife, Lenore Field Goldblatt. Al was a self-educated intellectual whose active and inquisitive mind remained undiminished until his final weeks. At age 16, as a graduating high school senior, he took the University of Chicago’s annual national scholarship exam and won a scholarship, but was unable to take advantage of the opportunity because he was needed to help support his family’s typewriter repair business. He later attended Northwestern University night school and eventually became a member of MENSA. Al participated in President Roosevelt’s civilian pilot training program before World War II. He finished first in his ground school class of 800 and was awarded with flying lessons. Subsequently, he earned a private pilot’s license. During the war, Al served as an instructor at the Air Force navigation school at Hondo, Texas, where in 1943, he graduated first in a class of 180 cadets, having earned the highest grade average in the history of the school. Al married Lenore Field of Chicago in 1949 and moved to Dallas, where they made their home together until Lenore’s death in 2003. A born salesman who would make any customer feel completely welcome and special, Al sold commercial furniture throughout the South and Southwest before opening a showroom in the Dallas World Trade Center, where he worked until his retirement in 2001. Al was a member of Temple Emanu-El in Dallas. One of the great pleasures of his life was the Topics dinner club, a close-knit group of friends who met for monthly lectures and dinners. Surviving Al are his son, Joel Goldblatt of Santa Fe, New Mexico; daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and Joe Pryzant of Houston, spectacular granddaughter Naomi Alena Pryzant; and brothers Marshall and Richard (Linda) Goldblatt. The family would like to add a special thanks to Perry E. Gross, MD, Al’s longtime physician and friend. Burial will be at 12:30 p.m. Monday at Temple Emanu-El Cemetery, 3430 Howell St. in Dallas. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday in Lefkowitz Chapel at Temple Emanu-El, 8500 Hillcrest Road. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Al’s memory may be made to the Henry D. Schlinger Ethics Symposium fund at Temple Emanu-El, or a nonprofit of your choice.