Arnold Adams Blackmur

01/12/2008

Great Barrington - Arnold Adams Blackmur, 79, of Santa Rosa, Calif., formerly of Great Barrington, died Jan. 12 at Sutter Hospital in Santa Rosa. Born in Boston on Jan. 31, 1928, son of Maurice A. and Louise Adams Blackmur, he graduated from Yale University in 1950 and received his master's degree from the University of Connecticut in 1960. In 1960, Mr. Blackmur moved to Moraga, Calif., where he taught history and political science at Acalanes High School in Lafayette for 25 years and led many student tours throughout Europe. He retired in 1984 and moved to Great Barrington. He spent many years volunteering at the Norman Rockwell Museum and at Tanglewood, and for the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. In January 2007, he moved to Spring Lake Village in Santa Rosa. He was an active member of Unitarian Universalist Meeting of Southern Berkshire and enjoyed history, reading, political discourse and classical music. He was a fan of the Boston Red Sox. He and his wife, the former Jean MacDonald Wheeler of Great Barrington, were married in 1950 at St. James' Church. Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, Robert Wheeler Blackmur of Houston and Peter Adams Blackmur of Washington, Mo.; two daughters, Sarah Blackmur Fogarty of the Turks and Caicos Islands and Margaret Blackmur Cope of San Anselmo, Calif.; and eight grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- A memorial service for Arnold Adams Blackmur, who died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, was held Jan. 18 at Spring Lake Village, Santa Rosa, Calif. Mr. Blackmur also leaves two daughters-in-law, Kathleen Lande (Robert) Blackmur and Elaine Wheeler (Peter) Blackmur; two sons-in-law, Gerard Fogarty and Foster Francis Cope III; and a sister-in-law, Roberta Wheeler of Great Barrington. Arnold had a remarkable memory for historical facts and was a valuable reference source in many a political discussion. He also delighted in the musical proficiencies of his grandchildren and enjoyed the stock market. At the conclusion to his memoirs, "My Life Story: Part I," Arnold wrote, "I embarked on a life that was full of love, adventure and meaning. I have been a lucky man!"

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