Bernard G. Blanchard, 80
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Bernard George Blanchard, 80, of 227 Franklin St. died Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2006, at North Adams Commons.
He was a past chairman and longtime member of the North Adams Parks and Recreation Commission and was associated for 25 years with the Fall Foliage Festival Committee, serving as parade director in 1969 and 1970.
Born in North Adams on Feb. 22, 1925, son of Leo and Louise Bedard Blanchard, he attended schools in North Adams, including the former Notre Dame Parochial School and the Houghton School.
He graduated in 1941 from the Holyoke Trade School in the machine shop trade.
Marine Corps veteran of World War II, he enlisted in 1942 and served as a private, first class, with the 3rd Marine Division.
Mr. Blanchard joined the former James Hunter Machine Co., now Morrison Berkshire, in 1946 as a machine operator and later worked as a production scheduler until retiring in 1985 with more than 39 years of service. He was first employed at the Springfield Armory as a machine shop operator.
He was a communicant of St. Francis' Church in North Adams. He was a member of the Northern Berkshire YMCA for 50 years and, in his younger years, taught swimming, life-saving classes and first aid courses. He was a member of Frank R. Stiles Post 125 American Legion in North Adams.
He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
An Eagle Scout, he returned to Scouting after his military career, and was Scoutmaster for Troop 5 of the YMCA, and later became a Explorer Adviser for Troop 198, a position he held for 25 years. In 1969, he was awarded the Silver Beaver, the highest adult award that the Boy Scout Council can bestow upon a Scouting volunteer.
He and his wife, the former Shirley W. Buckman, whom he married Oct. 18, 1947, in St. Ann's Church in Turners Falls.
Besides his wife of 58 years, he leaves a daughter, Bonnie-Lee Gower and her husband, David, of York, Pa.; three sisters, Lorraine Meczywor of Adams, Anita Fowler of Milford, Pa., and June Ryan of Uniondale, N.Y.; a grandson, Shawn David Gower, and nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
He was predeceased by a daughter, Lynne Marie Blanchard and a son, Keith George Blanchard, in infancy.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Funeral services for Mr. Blanchard will take place Monday at 10:15 a.m. at Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapels, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Francis' Church, North Adams. Burial with military honors will follow in the Southview Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations are suggested for the VNA and Hospice of Northern Berkshire, North Adams Ambulance Service or to the University of Massachusetts Memorial Foundation through the funeral home, 74 Marshall St. North Adams, MA 01247.