LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Olga Bloom, distinguished
citizen and devoted member of her community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Olga Bloom of Manhattan, New York, died on November 24, 2011,
at the age of 92; and
WHEREAS, Born Olga Bayrack on April 2, 1919, she grew up in Boston,
Massachusetts; her father was a Russian immigrant and amateur violinist;
her mother was a devoted Catholic who worked in factories; and
WHEREAS, Olga Bloom started playing violin at the age of four years
old and went on to study with Jacques Hoffman of the Boston Symphony
Orchestra; and
WHEREAS, Olga Bloom moved to New York, and joined a U.S.O. orchestra;
she recorded film scores and played for three years with the American
Symphony Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski and performed in Broadway pit
orchestras; and
WHEREAS, Olga Bloom's first husband, whom she married during World War
II, died in combat; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1950s, Olga Bloom met Tobias Bloom, a violinist
in the NBC Symphony Orchestra and they married a week later; and
WHEREAS, The Blooms eventually moved to a beach house on Long Island
and spent many evenings playing chamber music with friends until Tobias
Bloom died in 1975; and
WHEREAS, Olga Bloom distinguished herself in her profession and by her
sincere dedication and substantial contribution to the welfare of her
community; and
WHEREAS, The creator of Bargemusic, the classical floating concert
hall docked at Fulton Ferry Landing, Olga Bloom converted an old coffee
barge into a performance space in 1977; and
WHEREAS, Olga Bloom retired from Bargemusic in 2008, though perform-
ances continue there five nights a week; and
WHEREAS, Olga Bloom's commitment to excellence, and her spirit of
humanity carried over into all fields of enterprise including charitable
and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Olga Bloom is survived by a brother, Andrew Bayrack; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit, imbued with a sense of
compassion, and comforted by a loving family, Olga Bloom leaves behind a
legacy which will long endure the passage of time and will remain as a
comforting memory to all she served and befriended; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Olga Bloom, distinguished citizen and devoted member
of her community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Olga Bloom.