Herman R. Blanchette, 72, of Fort Myers, FL, known to many simply as “Red”, passed away peacefully and gently after an extended illness Thursday, September 24, 2020, with his wife BettyJane at his side.
He was born in Eagle Lake, Maine, on November 27, 1947 to Romeo and Kadeline (Soucie) Blanchette. He was the oldest of their four children and their only son. He graduated from Community High School class of 1965 in Ft. Kent, ME. After his father’s death in 1966, his mother moved the family to Connecticut where he enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve his country. He was stationed first at Fort Dix in NJ before being relocated to Fort Benning in GA, achieving the rank of Sergeant. After his service to the Army he returned to his family in CT where he eventually met his wife BettyJane in 1974. They married the following year and raised their three children in Southington, CT. Having educated himself as an electronic technician, they bought and successfully operated J.L. Ottenberg TV, Inc. on Park Rd in W. Htfd, CT for 12 years, bringing the business into the 21st century. In 1987, they moved to Florida, and rehabbed an old Florida style motel and created the Sabal Park Inn and assisted in the creation of Superior Small Lodgings of Lee County. Red was always full of energy and gave of his time, talents and funds to many including Big Brother/Big Sister, the N. Ft. Myers Chamber of Commerce, SSL, TDC, served as a Fire Commissioner in N.F.M., ran as a candidate for County Commissioner District 4, joined K of C council 11177 and served as an usher at his church. Red went on to become a licensed Realtor and continued in that field until 2015 when blood clots and other medical emergencies demanded his retirement.
In addition to BettyJane (McKinley) Blanchette, his loving wife of 45 years, he leaves behind a son from his first marriage, Christopher R. Blanchette and his wife Keri Anne (Tommasi) and grandchildren, Lucas Robert, Patrick James, and Jolene Anne all of Charlotte, NC; BettyJane’s children from her first marriage, Charlene Orsine of Cape Coral, FL and Brian Orsine, grandson Matthew Orsine, and great-grandson Grayson Orsine all of Ft Myers, FL. Also surviving him are
his two younger sisters, Hope (Blanchette) Miller and her husband Steven of Somers, CT and Phyllis (Blanchette) Barrington and her husband Francis Sr. of Agawam, MA as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, who were both Navy veterans and by the oldest of his sisters, Dawn (Blanchette) Fedyniak of Ft Worth, TX.
A funeral Mass in celebration of Herman’s life will be held on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, 1922 S.W. 20th Ave., Cape Coral, FL at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Herman R. Blanchette to Alzheimer’s Research, 620 Sea Island Rd, suite 288, St. Simons Island, GA 31522 OR St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, 1922 S.W. 20th Ave., Cape Coral, FL. 33991 OR Hope Hospice, 9470 Healthpark Cir., Ft Myers, FL 33908. Please mark "in memory of Herman R. Blanchette" on your donation.
For more information please contact Coral Ridge Funeral at 239- 283-0540.
Please feel free to share a memory here on this website or bring it with you to share during a gathering at Coral Ridge Funeral home immediately following the Mass at church.
With concern for the well being of all in this difficult time of social distancing, it is requested that facial masks be worn and hand sanitizer be used in the church and funeral home.
FOR THOSE UNABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON: The funeral Mass will be live streamed. Please use this link: http://www.drexelcc.org/ to the church website and click on the ( F LIVE ) link at the top right hand side of the page.
