John W. Blake, 79, of Yarmouthport, formerly of Jupiter, FL, Wayland and Weston, MA, died peacefully on Jan. 27 after a long illness. John was born in Boston, raised in Wellesley Hills and graduated from The Fessenden School, Phillips Academy – Andover in 1945 and Harvard University in 1951. He served in the Navy during the Korean War and was a graduate of the New York Maritime Academy. He was the co-founder, Chairman and Treasurer of Colony, Inc. of Quincy, Brockton, Walpole and Hingham, one of the largest distributors of industrial gasses and welding supplies. Before he started Colony, Inc. Mr. Blake was Treasurer of Blake and Company, wool merchants in Boston in the 1950’s.
Mr. Blake was formerly President of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, President of the Clover Club of Boston in 1980, Chairman of the Board of Braintree Saint Coletta’s School from 1974 – 1976, a Board member from 1969-1984 and the recipient of their Silver Anniversary Award for Distinguished Service in 1982. He was a Director of the Family Counseling and Guidance Centers from 1969-1984. Mr. Blake was a Trustee of The Fessenden School from 1971 – 1979.
Mr. Blake was the Class Agent, Class of 1945 Phillips Academy Andover for more than a quarter of a century, receiving a Distinguished Service Award in 2002. He was a member of Union Carbide’s National Distributor Advisory Council from 1966-1978, general Chairman of Quincy’s Salvation Army Capital Fund Drive in 1968, Chairman of Harvard University, Class of 1951 30th reunion and Finance Chairman of the 1982 Conway for Congress campaign.
Mr. Blake was a longtime member of Brae Burn Country Club, Essex Country Club, the Loxahatchee Club, Jupiter Florida and the Clover Club of Boston.
John loved his children, his grandchildren and golf. He also enjoyed traveling, the Red Sox, writing parodies for the Clover Club and fundraising for a good cause.
He is survived by his five children, Sarah Blake Cates of Landenberg, PA, Pamela Blake Kates of Grafton, MA, Britt Blake of Spokane, WA, Whitney E. Blake of Landrum, SC and Hillary Blake Mandell of Weston, CT and his six grandchildren. Mr. Blake was preceded in death by his parents, Harry J. and Jean Wright Blake, his sister, Joan Blake Lamphier and his brothers, Harry G. Blake and Robert Blake.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., Wellesley, Thursday at 9:00 AM. Funeral mass in St. Paul’s Church, Wellesley, at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends Kindly invited. Visiting hours Wed. 4-8 PM. Interment Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline.
Memorial donations may be made to the Whitney Blake and Hillary Blake Mandell scholarship at Phillips Academy Andover, Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod or the charity of your choice.