| Obituary | Mr. Donald F. VanBlarcom, 83, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014 at Hillcrest Commons Nursing Home in Pittsfield where he had been a patient since Aug. 2012. He was a member of the Lenox and Dalton Methodist Church and the Masons.
He was born in Swampscott, Mass. on Dec. 24, 1930, son of H. Kendall VanBlarcom and Ruth E. (Ladd) VanBlarcom. He graduated from English High School in Lynn, Mass. and shortly thereafter joined the Military. He served and was honorably discharged both from the Navy and then again from Active Duty in the Army during the Korean War with the rank of Sergeant. Mr. VanBlarcom was a multi-talented man, a jack of all trades and master of some. Much of his career was spent as self-employed, but during his lifetime he had been a volunteer EMS Paramedic, Machinist contractor to Grumman Aerospace during the Apollo missions, and insurance salesman and gave seminars on personal investments strategies.
A loving, kind and thoughtful father, he leaves behind three daughters, Karen E. VanBlarcom and Donna M. VanBlarcom of Astoria, N.Y. and Amy L. Dodge (nee VanBlarcom) of Dalton, and his two granddaughters, Taylor E. Dodge and Arianna K. Poirier, also of Dalton. He also leaves behind three siblings, Jacquelyn Fellows, Kendall E. VanBlarcom, and Stephen L. VanBlarcom and his nieces and nephews David, Diane, Patty, Betsy, Deborah, Mark, Eric (deceased), and Jeff and numerous great nieces and nephews who will miss him dearly.
GRAVESIDE SERVICES: Graveside services will be Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 2 p.m. at Ashuelot Cemetery in Dalton at the family plot with his mother and father. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either Soldier On in Pittsfield www.wesoldieron.org or Shareing and Careing Breast Cancer Support Services in Astoria, N.Y. www.shareing-careing.org.The Berkshire Eagle, September 10, 2014 |
