Harry Underwood Blaisdell

HARRY UNDERWOOD BLAISDELL (“Undy”) Born 14 - July, 1914, passed away in the presence of friends & relatives on January 30th at the age of 97. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Barbara Jones Blaisdell (d. 11/8/99). He was born in Binghamton, New York, the son of Dr. Russell Enoch Blaisdell and Sue Underwood Blaisdell, during the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. He was interested in all of the technological advances of the 20th & 21st Century, remaining engaged in current events and following the stock market through the time of his death.

Mr. Blaisdell was a member of Jekyll Island Presbyterian Church in Georgia. He attended McDonough Academy, Colgate University, and New York University.

Prior to his retiring on Jekyll Island in 1976, Mr. Blaisdell was a pioneer in the area of mental health services, employed by the New York State Dept. of Mental Hygiene, continuing the work started by his father Dr. Russell E. Blaisdell. As the Business Administrator of an 8,000 bed psychiatric facility in New York, he oversaw every detail down to the pacifying colors and comfortable furniture used in patient dormitories. He was a proponent for the introduction of psychiatric medications and deinstitutionalization. His pioneering nature, coupled with a love of golf enabled him to design and build one of the first golf courses on the grounds of a State Hospital (Rockland). He is recognized as the architect of the Broadacres Golf Course in Orangeburg New York, and became a member of the PGA. Mr. Blaisdell was appointed Deputy Director of Institutional Administration and spent the last few years of his career at South Beach Psychiatric Center, Staten Island, New York. He was Corporate Treasurer of Nathan Kline Institute at Rockland Psychiatric Center.

Following his retirement in 1976 he split his time between Georgia and Maine where he maintained a 2nd (& now 3rd) generation cabin on Three Cornered Pond outside the city of Augusta. He built much of the cabin by hand with lifelong friends. Both in New York and locally, he was a dedicated member of the Rotary Club for over 60 years, a past president of the Rotary Club of Pearl River, NY, twice honored as a Paul Harris Fellow, and a Charter Member of the Jekyll Island Club. Mr. Blaisdell was also a Charter Member of the Nyack Field Club, Upper Nyack, New York. He donated generously to a variety of charities involved in medical research and animal care.

Mr. Blaisdell was an avid sportsman interested in tennis, fishing, sailing, and golf. One of his favorite pastimes as a licensed pilot was embarking on recreational flights with family and friends. He enjoyed the family tradition of vegetable gardening and could often be seen driving about in his antique, 1949 Crosley “Hot Shot.”

Undy had a remarkable sense of humor and was genuinely loved by all who met him. He insisted that the bird feeders in his yard remain full and that no squirrel be denied a cob of corn in his yard. He was unaffected by material things and was genuinely interested in the successes of others, listening to details of their businesses and avocations, while taking heart in their successes.

In spite of his declining health during this past year he continued to enjoy “Perfect Rob-Roys” in the company of family, friends and caretakers. An opinionated but gentle man who was blessed to live a comfortable life on his own terms, he described himself as being “content.”

He is survived by his brother Russell Orcutt Blaisdell and his wife Barbara Nichols Blaisdell of Naples, Florida; his daughters Suzanne Blaisdell Grant and her husband Edward Alan Grant of Upper Nyack, New York and Barbara Ann Seldin of Jekyll Island; grandchildren, Kristin Grant Erickson, Russell Blaisdell Grant, Jason Matthew Seldin & Jeffrey Michael Seldin; great grandchildren Grant and Karylena Erickson; primary caregiver Angie Mullins and his devoted dog, Sgt. Pepper. He was well known on Jekyll Island and leaves behind friends & extended family throughout the country.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Scituate C.O.R.S.E. Foundation (a charitable organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs) PO Box 512, N. Scituate, MA 02060 www.corsefoundation.org or The Jekyll Island Foundation 381 Riverview Dr., Jekyll Island, GA 31527 www.jekyllislandfoundation.org

A memorial service will be held 11:30 am. Saturday Februrary 18, 2012 at the Jekyll Island Presbyterian Church. 301 Riverview Drive, Jekyll Island , GA.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home and Oglethorpe

Crematorium.