Marilyn Few Green Blair

Marilyn Few Green Blair, a 50 year resident of Riverside, CT died at sunset, Wednesday, April 9, 2014. Her husband of 55 years, and their four children held her in their arms. She was 76, and diagnosed with cancer just one month prior.

Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Janella Few and Clinton C. Green, Marilyn also lived in Rison, Stephens and Texarkana. Her older sister, Betty had a dance school where her mother played the piano, her brother sang and she tap danced. The youngest of four children, she was orphaned before she turned thirteen and was then raised by her sister & husband, Betty and Bob Graham in Chicago, IL.

On her mother's side, she was a descendant of William Few of Georgia, a signer of the United States Constitution; and Dr. William Preston Few, the first President of Duke University. She graduated York High School, Elmhurst, IL and continued her quest for education taking courses at University of Chicago, The New School, Manhattanville, Duke, Oxford and Cambridge Universities and London School of Economics.

Marilyn was hired by Pan American World Airways in Chicago where she met the love of her life, Dick Blair. They married on Memorial Day 1959. The following year she delivered their first child, Richard, Jr. in Evanston, IL. They then moved to Stamford, CT where David was born before settling in their first house in Riverside prior to the births of their two daughters, Carol and Lynn.

She traveled the world extensively on Pan Am throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. Marilyn visited numerous countries and was an early explorer of China, Russia, Egypt and Kenya; Bora Bora, Tonga, Bali and Easter Island, among many others. Her journeys affirmed her deep appreciation for the common humanity of all people and the importance of history, culture and art. Her favorite country was France, particularly Provence and Paris.

The focus and passion of her life was her family and the beautiful homes she created. Marilyn had an eye for decorating and a wonderful sense of style. She created beautiful and welcoming spaces. She nurtured and protected her family and supported their diverse interests. She volunteered in every capacity over the course of more than two decades in the Greenwich school system, served as leader of a Girl Scout troop, coached a girl’s softball team, the Royal Lyme Champs, and taught religious education with her husband. She sailed a Sunfish and Cape Dory Typhoon and played tennis as a member of the Riverside Yacht Club.

Marilyn was free spirited, ever curious and fun loving. She loved learning and closely followed politics and current events. She enjoyed celebrations and was a wonderful dancer who could follow anyone. She was enchanted by the great mystery of the universe and had a strong faith. She loved rainy days, starry nights and candlelight. She had tremendous intuition and insight, and was truly the north star of her family. Marilyn’s husband, Dick, their four children and spouses and her 10 grandchildren, whom she loved dearly, will carry on her legacy – Richard & Beverly, their three sons Trey, Charlie and Alex; David & Alicia, and son Taylor; Carol & Gordon Scowcroft, their sons Stephen and Daniel; Lynn & Brian Ebzery, their children Janella, Brian, Blair and Noah.

The charities Marilyn supported benefited nature preservation, education, public radio and television as well as women, children and families. In her honor, donations may be made to Greenwich Point Conservancy, HealthCare Chaplaincy and WNET Thirteen.

Family and friends will gather at Greenwich Point on May 10 at 5:30 PM for a sunset memorial service to celebrate the life of Marilyn Blair.

Greenwich Point Conservancy - https://greenwichpoint.org/about.htm

HealthCare Chaplaincy - http://www.healthcarechaplaincy.org/

WNET Thirteen - http://www.thirteen.org/