Gerald E. Blair

Gerald Elroy Blair, 88, of Ithaca, NY and formerly of Nokomis, FL and Pittsford, NY, passed away on December 23, 2013, after a brief illness complicated by Alzheimer's Disease. Born on May 11, 1925 in Greenwood, NY, he was raised on a dairy farm in Nunda, NY, the son of Marze and Ila Blair, the second of five children. He was a high school athlete and musician, and married his high school sweetheart. He received a BS in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University and an MS from Penn State University. He worked for RCA in Lancaster, PA, Bausch and Lomb in Rochester, NY, and EG&G in Santa Barbara, CA, but spent most of his career with Kodak, in Rochester, NY, retiring 1988. He was a brilliant scientist and engineer, and held numerous patents in the glass science discipline. A life-long Christian through the United Methodist Church, he sang in the choir and worked tirelessly for the good of others. He enjoyed golf, travel and boating, and dreamed of sailing around the world. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, is survived by his wife of 68 years, Vivian Willey Blair. He was preceded in death by son, Randolph. Survivors include daughters Susan (Terry) Habecker, Robin (Jeff Childs) Blair, and son Mitchell (Elizabeth) Blair. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren: Julia Habecker (Kevin Green), Tracy Habecker (Noah Kamrat), Erin Habecker, Emily Blair (Ballard Smith Blair), Courtney Blair, Eliza Blair (Arthur Chu), Sarah Blair, and William Blair, and 7 great-grandchildren: Ellen Green, Corrinne Green, Jonah Green, Zev Kamrat, Raina Kamrat, Kobrin Blair and Ila Blair. He was also preceded in death by a younger brother, Nelson Blair, and is survived by brother, Elmore Blair, and sisters, June Blake Metro and Sally Coffey, many nieces, nephews and friends. Donations in his memory may be made to Forest Home Chapel, Ithaca, NY, or to the Alzheimer's Association. A memorial service will be held at Rushville UMC, Jan 11, 2014 at 11:00 am.