BOCK, JOSEPH COURTNEY (24 Sept. 1913-14 Feb. 1992), musical prodigy and outstanding amateur tennis player, was born in Cleveland the son of Peter D. and Laura Henrich Bock. He attended Western Reserve University studying the liberal arts. Bock also was an accomplished musician playing the piano and violin at a young age. He performed as a piano soloist at the CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF MUSIC at age 13 and two years later was playing the piano for his own radio program on WHK.
Bock began his tennis career in the 1930s and won several area championships, including Cleveland's Municipal Tennis Title in Sept. 1936, when he defeated Gene Vash in the men's singles event. In his late 40s and early 50s, Bock and his partner,Edward DiLeone, won the men's doubles in the Senior National Public Parks tennis championship in 1961, 1962, 1964, and 1965. Adept at languages, he learned to speak Polish, German, and Spanish in his work with community groups in Cleveland. Bock, who never married, died in Cleveland at age 78 and was buried at Calvary cemetery; there were no immediate survivors.