Leo V. Blatch

Leo Velock Blatch, 89, of Washington, D.C., passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 24, 2023. Born May 25, 1933 in Miami, Fla., to Mary and Arthur Blatch, Leo was the second youngest of five children. Both of his parents were born and raised in the Bahamas. He grew up in a close-knit community, almost all of whom were of Bahamian descent. Leo was gifted academically from an early age, earning the childhood nickname “Gali-Leo”. He graduated high school two years early and was offered a full scholarship to become an Episcopal minister. To his family’s chagrin, he turned it down and instead completed his bachelor’s degree at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., majoring in political science. He was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. After graduating in 1954, he signed up for the U.S. Army — he intended to use the G.I. Bill to finance law school. At a time when the standardized tests administered by the Army were overtly discriminatory against Black people, Leo had one of the highest scores. Because of this, he was sent to the cold mountains of Germany to learn the math required to operate the long-distance guns then aimed at Hungary. (Leo was always grateful that they never actually had to fire the guns during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.) Though the men in his unit were not officers, they were not ordinary GIs. It was an exclusive unit of highly intelligent men, educated at some of the finest Ivy-League schools, and deemed capable of mastering the complex math required to fire these guns. As the only Black man in the unit, Leo was met with stony silence. On the streets of Germany, he was sometimes followed by groups of children asking if they could see his tail. But when he aced the first exam, and everyone else flunked, his fellow servicemen took notice. In addition to his obvious intelligence, there were some in his unit who were also drawn to his extensive collection of jazz, which he played constantly. Over time, he did form a couple of friendships with members of his unit, including one very close friendship. Following his military service, in 1957 he moved to Washington, D.C. to enroll at Howard University School of Law. At that time, the school served as a resource for civil rights attorneys, including Thurgood Marshal, James Nabrit, Spotswood W. Robinson, who were bringing cases throughout the South seeking enforcement of the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision. Leo and his fellow law review classmates did research, worked on appellate briefs, and helped with mock oral arguments to support these cases. They played an active role in the discrimination cases that changed the nation. Leo graduated from Howard magna cum laude in 1960. He was first in his class and editor-in-chief of the law review. After graduating law school, Leo joined the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) as an attorney in the General Counsel’s Office of Advice, and later the Office of Appeals. He was the first Black attorney in the General Counsel’s office and the first Black attorney promoted to a supervisory role in that Office. He was noted for his “steel-trap mind”, and for his outstanding writing and editing skills. But Leo did a lot more than labor law. He continued his interest in civil rights and in 1963, he was a marshal in the March on Washington where he soaked his feet in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool while listening to the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. At work, a steady stream of employees came for free legal advice on civil rights issues, debt or credit issues, domestic relations etc. He also was a tax expert and ran a small tax business on the side, assisting small Black-owned businesses with their tax returns and advising on good business practices. He developed a reputation as “the people’s counsel” because of his willingness to help others with their legal issues. It was at the NLRB that he met his wife Lyn, then an attorney in the NLRB Office of Appeals. They married in 1970. They have two daughters, Mary and Sydella and raised them in the Shepherd Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C.. A devoted father, Leo coached a neighborhood soccer team, took his girls to amusement parks, and was always good for a late-night pick-up from the movies. He was incredibly patient, the best listener, and a steadfast comforter. He served as Deputy Acolyte Master, teaching his girls and other children how to serve on the altar as he did when he was a child. He was also an excellent cook — his Bahamian style fried fish, pigeon peas and rice, conch fritters, fried chicken, and mac and cheese were favorites with everyone. He was also known for his unique sense of fashion — everyone loved his bow-ties and vests. Leo was a passionate sports fan from childhood on. He often told of the time when, as a kid, he was so focused on catching the football on a long pass that he ran straight into the goal post, suffering a mild concussion. As an adult, Leo was a dedicated golfer and Washington Commanders football team fan. He had season tickets for 25 years and could be found at East Potomac Golf Course working on his game whenever possible. Even when his many health challenges restricted him, he never lost the desire to be on the driving range or putting green. Leo was particularly passionate about jazz. He often said that if it was not such a hard lifestyle, he would have been a musician rather than an attorney. He saw all the jazz greats in person and had an outstanding music collection. Wherever Leo was — at home, in the office, or in the car — he had his music playing. He was always happy to introduce others to jazz and share his in-depth knowledge. He always said his only regret in life was not learning to play the upright bass. Leo was a lifelong learner with an inquiring mind, as well as a prolific reader and crossword puzzle aficionado. He was knowledgeable of much of the world’s faiths and mythologies. Everyone loved him – he was smart, funny, and had an easy-going nature. Though gifted intellectually, he never put on airs or set himself above others. Leo had the ability to put anyone at ease, by making them laugh and instinctively making them feel welcome. At the same time, he was fearless in pursuing what he felt was right, whether on behalf of someone else, or his family’s interests. He was one of the community leaders who defeated the attempt to build a Wendy’s fast-food outlet in the neighborhood and instead establish the Shepherd Park Library. He was not a regular ‘church-goer’ but was a deeply spiritual man — his Episcopal hymnal was worn and threadbare from use. He sometimes read from it before holiday meals with the family. He also regularly participated in fellowship with others in pursuit of spiritual progress. Leo was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Barbara Brooks, and his brothers Norman and Arthur Jr. His first marriage to Rita Clinkscale (deceased) ended in divorce. He is survived by his wife Maralyn Geiger Blatch (also known as Lyn Blatch), their daughters Mary (Robert Lee) and Sydella (Khari Alexander), their grandchildren Josephine and Christopher Lee, his sister Gloria McPhee, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to N Street Village, www.nstreetvillage.org. Leo admired the services it provides to D.C. residents.

Leo V. Blatch

May 25, 1933 - January 24, 2023