Eugene Frederick Blaisdell, 79, a resident of Dutchess County since 1959 and formerly of Old Town, ME, died on Sunday, September 19, 2010 at the Ferncliff Nursing Home in Rhinebeck.
Born in Bangor, ME on January 8, 1931, he was the son of Leo Wilfred and Irene Averill Annis Blaisdell. He graduated from Bangor High School and enlisted in the US Air Force. He was stationed in Japan and Korea during the Korean War. He graduated on June 7, 1959 from the University of Maine, Orono with a Bachelors of Education and on June 9, 1968 from SUNY New Paltz with a Masters of Science/Education. He taught for 3 years in Dover Plains and then moved to East Fishkill when he was hired by the Wappingers Central School District. He taught at Roy C. Ketcham High School from when it opened until his retirement in 1986.
While attending UMO, Eugene met Delcena Marie King who was employed at the college as a secretary. They soon fell in love and married on September 3, 1956 in Old Town. She predeceased him in 2007. Eugene and Delacena had three sons: Mark in 1957, Dean in 1961 and Jeffrey in 1967. He is survived by his three sons; three grandchildren, Brandon and Andrew Blaisdell and Alicia Franclemont; two great-grandchildren, Alynn and Aidan; his daughters-in-law, Kim, Robin and Sherry; and his siblings, Richard Blaisdell and Helen Caldwell.
Calling hours will be held on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the McHoul Funeral Home, Inc., 895 Route 82, Hopewell Junction. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Columba Church, 835 Route 82, Hopewell Junction followed by interment in St. Denis Cemetery with military honors.
Memorial donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at www.leukemia-lymphoma.org or 1-888-557-7177.
Special thanks to the staff at Vassar Brothers Medical Center and Ferncliff Nursing Home for their dedication and care of Eugene during his illness.