Kenneth Roland Bloom

Kenneth was born in South Africa on July 12, 1943, to Grace Widman and Cecil Bloom. He attended the King Edward School as a youngster, and the University of Witwatersrand where he received his medical degree. He married Dr. Sheila Swartzman on December 4, 1966. In 1972, they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio for a fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology. In 1974, the family relocated to Canada where he joined the faculty of The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. In 1979, the family immigrated a final time to San Antonio, Texas, where Kenneth became Chief, Pediatric Cardiology and Director of the Non-Invasive Laboratories at the Brooke Army Medical Center. In 1982, he was awarded The Meritorious Service Medal by Executive Order for his service. From there he opened his private practice, Pediatric Cardiology Associates, where he worked for four decades, helping hundreds of children, and often their children, in San Antonio and throughout Texas. He retired from medicine in 2013, exiting his practice with a can of Diet Dr. Pepper in place of a gold watch.

Throughout his life in San Antonio, he and Sheila were enthusiastic advocates for the city’s vibrant classical music community. They actively supported the Chamber Music Society, of which Kenneth served as President, the S.A. Philharmonic, the Youth Orchestra, the Houston Grand Opera, and just about every local classical music group they could. This brought endless joy to him.

Kenneth is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sheila, their children Dianne Bloom and Robert Bloom, and his wife Rachel Griffiths, grandsons Dominick and Heath, his older brother Martin Bloom and his wife Nadia, as well as numerous extended family members and lifelong friends across the globe. And last of all his dog Molly, with whom he took five-mile walks every day.

He will be sorely missed.

A celebration of Kenneth’s life will be held Temple Beth-El on Sunday, December 18th 2022, at 2pm. A livestream of the service may be viewed here.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to the children’s charity of your choice, or to the San Antonio Philharmonic.

You are invited to email memories of Kenneth directly to the family at [email protected], and to sign the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com.