Marguerite Ann Gabrielle "Gay" Blum

08/14/2006

Marguerite Ann Gabrielle "Gay" Blum, 65, of 320 State Road died Monday at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. Born in New York on Feb. 22, 1941, daughter of Paul A. and Martha Baum Blum, her family moved to Great Barrington in 1954 after spending summers in Mount Washington. She graduated from the former Searles High School in 1959 and from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1964. She earned a master of education degree in science from Westfield State College and a certificate of advanced graduate studies from Wesleyan University. Ms. Blum was employed as a teacher at Searles High School, at Monument Mountain Regional High School and at Berkshire Community College, retiring in 2001 with a total of 36 years of service. She also worked at one time as an engineering material analyst for the state of New York in Albany. She owned and operated Chez Gabrielle Bed and Breakfast. She was a member of the musical barbershop group, the Cobble-Tones; Berkshire Concert Choir; the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, and the New England Association of Chemistry Teachers. She also volunteered at St. Peter's Parish Ethnic Fair. She leaves a sister, Joyce B. DeWallace of Shrewsbury. FUNERAL NOTICE -- A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Marguerite Ann Gabrielle "Gay" Blum, who died Monday, Aug. 14, 2006, will be celebrated Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006, at noon at St. Peter's Church in Great Barrington by the Rev. William Murphy. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 2:30 to 5 at Gay's home, 320 State Road in Great Barrington. Memorial contributions may be made to the Monument Mountain Regional High School science department for the Speakers Program through FINNERTY & STEVENS FUNERAL HOME, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com. She also leaves a brother-in-law, Craig; three nieces, Katherine Merrigan of Canton, Alison Peterson of Holden and Tegan DeWallace of Lowell, and six grandnieces and -nephews. She was predeceased by her sister, Marymartha Blum, in 2005. In 2001, Gay retired after teaching thousands of students during her 36-year career in education.

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Marguerite Ann Gabrielle "Gay" Blum

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