Daniel G. Blake Sr., of Westfield passed away at home on May 16th.
A graduate of Springfield High School in Springfield, VT 1960, he served in the Springfield Army National Guard Reserves from 1961 thru 1963.
He is preceded in death by his parents George and Fredericka Miller Blake of Springfield, VT. His stepfather Edward H. Doody of Keene, NH and sister Sharlene E. Patnaude of Unity, NH.
Daniel is survived by his wife, Catherine M. Blake of Westfield, NY, whom he married on June 1, 2002. He is also survived by two brother's Norman S. Blake of Ipswich, MA and Donald F. Blake of Swanzey, NH.; three children, Daniel Blake Jr. of Brattleboro, VT, Steven Blake of Swanzey, NH, and Sheri West of Guilford, VT; three stepchildren Stephanie Rummings of Brocton, NY, Beau M. Gonzales of Kailua, HI, and Tabatha Molina of Westfield; and 13 grandchildren.
No services are planned at this time.
George Snell
Dan,You are going to be missed,but not forgotten,Your family will be in my prayers.Linda Olmstead
Dan’s poems reminded me of the connectiveness in all things along the way. It makes one realize that the self is only the self in that it has a world, a structure of which it is a part - a part, yet apart. We are a community of persons and a world of things. We are what we are because birds exist, plants grow, bees pollinate, winds blow, tides change, rains fall,and accidents happen. Nothing occurs in the world that in some way does not affect us all. Even the most insignificant act we perform will have some effect upon the world.
Philosophers talk about all of us being caught up and moving in a single stream of life. I think it means, we all originated from the source but are not ourselves the source. We arise as a special quality of the source and pass on into it again while the true source itself remains. We will run our unique way, over rapids, peaceful ponds, fiercely at times, calmly at others. We will join other streams and rivers along the way, gaining strength, being propelled or momentarily falling aside in muddy, stagnant pools. But no matter how quickly or slowly or quietly or passionately we move, we all come eventually to the same end in the same sea. We have returned to the source from which we rose. We are therefore at one time or another, the beginning, the end, as well as the way, but are permanently never any of them. We are an important part of the dynamic process, but we, like everything else, are only passing through.
Dan left us with the beauty of his spirit through his poems that he so willingly shared with us. Poems that touched our hearts and taught us all of the above. Each of us is a better person for having him in our lives. Through his works he will live on, through his family he will live on.
My heart and prayers go out to his family.
Maureen Laramie (Wagner)
Dear Cathy and family of Dan,
I am deeply saddened to hear of Dan's passing. I have thought of him often from reading his poetry, the email he sent me and the updates of his illness through this website.
He left us with the wonderful gift of his poetry he shared with us through this website. I have printed them to save as they were so special and it was so easy to visual what he wrote.
You will all be in my thoughts and prayers.
With love,
Maureen Wagner
Louise Kendall (Peale)
I am so very sorry, Dan's family. Prayers are with you.
He appeared to me to be a truly gentle free spirit.
Willl miss his poems and observations on life.
Louise Kendall
Francis "Dick" Benton
Dick & Cheryl Benton
Dan, our prayers are with you and your family at this time. Until we meet again, God Bless.
Elaine Antonivich (Broekhuizen)
It is with great sympathy that I remember Dan Blake as a classmate, starting at our wonderful South School.
I remember Dan as a fun-lving sort of kid and very friendly.
He will be missed by all of us.
Elaine Antonivich Broekhuizen
Mary Bixby (Lescord)
Danny you will be missed. You were a delightful and fun friend when we were in high school. And I will miss reading your poetry posted online. May God bless and keep you safe with him now.
Mary Bixby Lescord
Jim Childs
Dan and I were in the National Guard and went through Basic Training together in Fort Dix, NJ. Dan you will surely be missed!
Your friend, Jim Childs
Sandra Woodward
My heart is heavy, now that Dan has passed. He was my Roller Skating Buddy at the community club and at the Keene skating club. My ex-husband and Dan did lots of things together as well as skating. He was funny, full of neat ideas and one of my very best friends growing up. I know that Danny's poetry was extra special to all his classmates and to me. May your pain be gone and your with the lord God Dan. A friend always Sandy