Constance R. Blair, 94

Oil Painter, Gardener & Writer

1924 — Jan 22, 2019 .

Constance R. Blair died on January 22 in her home at Stonebridge at Montgomery at the age of 94.

She was born in Milton, MA in 1924 to Sherman Rodman Ramsdell and Margaret Bateman Ramsdell. She grew up in Milton and spent her childhood summers with her father and brother in Lubec, ME. Her mother died in 1928.

She graduated from Simmons College in 1945. She then worked as a textbook editor at Allyn and Bacon and later served as director of advertising for Personal Book Shops in Boston. In 1947 she married Hector D. Blair, a financial manager with General Electric. As her husband was transferred among various GE outposts, she lived at times in Topsfield, MA; Owensboro, KY; Hinsdale, IL; and Milan, Italy; and frequently returned to live in the Schenectady, NY area. She moved to Stonebridge in 2008.

Ms. Blair served in leadership roles on the boards of several Schenectady civic, educational, and social service organizations. She was an accomplished gardener and oil painter, as well as a lifelong writer. She was the author of Benvenuto to Milan, published in Milan in 1977.

Her other enthusiasms included Lake George, the Italian Alps, singing, handbell ringing, bread baking, knitting, and Airedale terriers.

She is survived by three children: Douglas H. Blair (Ann Reichelderfer) of Rocky Hill; Stuart R. Blair (Suzanne Summer) of Oakland, CA; and Elizabeth A. Blair (Michael Chrobot) of Hurley, NY. A fourth child, David R. Blair, died in infancy. Constance Blair is also survived by six grandchildren: Graeme D. Blair of Santa Monica, CA; Susannah E. Blair of Brooklyn, NY; Heidi C. Blair of Missoula, MT; Timothy C. Blair of Berkeley, CA; Benjamin B. Chrobot of Brooklyn, NY; and Maya C. Chrobot of Hurley, NY.

Memorial services will be private. Contributions in her memory can be directed to Girls Inc of the Greater Capital Region, 962 Albany Street, Schenectady, NY 12307. ■