On Sunday, October 23 Ray Blanchard, beloved husband and father passed away. He was born in 1939 in Manchester, New Hampshire and christened Philip Raymond Blanchard by his parents Mary Jackman Blanchard and Daniel Ray Blanchard. He grew up attending public schools in Manchester and working summers in Jackson at the Jackson Falls House, which his father owned and managed from 1946-1968. His first job was “roll boy” in the dining room there. He graduated from Manchester Central and did a preparatory year at Mt. Herman before attending Dartmouth College, from which he graduated in 1961. He attended law school at Boston College and returned to New Hampshire, practicing law in Portsmouth for 40 years.

Ray was devoted to his family, his community, and the state in which he lived his whole life. He loved hiking, skiing, canoeing, and camping with his wife and children. Ray married MaryAnn Navatta in June of 1967. Over their 54 years of marriage, they raised four children and several dogs, some better behaved than others. Known for his extraordinary kindness and dry wit, Ray was on a first name basis with people wherever he went. He loved to bring coworkers home for lunch, have a houseful of guests on holidays, and spend an evening singing with a few close friends.

He worked as a ward moderator, ward clerk and volunteered with Portsmouth Democrats, and a number of charitable causes like the Lions Club. He was known as “Fearless Leader of Boy Scout Troop 469”. He was a talented pianist whose musical interests ranged from Beethoven to Dartmouth drinking songs. He was a faithful fan at hundreds of games, meets, and concerts for his children and grandchildren, braving rain, snow, and hours of car travel. His pride in our accomplishments was undaunted and sometimes unprecedented.

Ray is survived by his wife Mary Ann and his children, Mary Beth (Robert) Capone, Catherine (David) Cosgrove, Daniel (Laurie) Blanchard, and Frances (Al Costa) Blanchard. His greatest fans are his grandchildren, Rocco Capone, Sophia and Lilli Cosgrove, and Georgieanna and Annabel Blanchard.

Ray’s family is deeply grateful for the capable and compassionate care he received from the staff at The Edgewood Centre.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held at Corpus Christi Church, 10:00 am on Thursday October 27.

Donations in Ray’s memory can be made to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests: https://forestsociety.org/contributions