Rita Lee Block Chouinard

Family-Placed Obituary

RITA LEE BLOCK CHOUINARD Rita Lee Block Chouinard (69), of West Palm Beach, FL, passed on June 4, 2011 after a long bout with cancer. She was born quietly on March 27, 1942 in Utica, NY, but that's the last time anyone would call her quiet. Her presence has been shaking up the world since then. Before she was potty trained, she was counting out change at the nickel-and-dime store, Ace Jobbing, owned by her parents Anne and Bob Block, in Syracuse, NY. She traveled to state fairs and conventions helping her father get the best bargains, as well as helped her mother close a good deal. She was the second mother to her siblings, Alex and Paula Block. After the long, cold winters in Syracuse, she escaped to Miami University for two years, before returning to Syracuse University. She moved around to California, before finally landing in New York City, on Wall Street, in the 70s. One of the first women on Wall Street, she was an unstoppable force, creating memories, laughs, and stories over the next 20 years. She always surrounded herself with food, laughter, and friendship everywhere she went, and she was known as the ultimate matchmaker. She married her husband, Richard Chouinard, after one of her matchmaking dates cancelled at the last minute, leaving them to dizzly tour around Long Island and fall in love. She is also survived by her daughter, Jill Mallek (Richard), who was the light of her life, and her loving stepdaughter Elizabeth Chouinard Grandich (Eric), who brought her warmth, love, and three grandchildren (Richard, Trepp, and Gisele). Few who have met Rita can forget her quickly, and it was rare that someone could meet Rita and not see what a crazy character she was within minutes. She had a vibrant, breathtaking, amazing zest for the world, and it is a better place for her having shared her love with everyone. In lieu of flowers, which Rita always hated, she would love if people donated to her favorite charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: http://www.stjude.org or call 1-800-873-6983. Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, June 6 at Levitt-Weinstein in Hollywood, FL. The family will be observing Shiva on Tuesday and Wednesday at her home from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries