David Frederick Blake

David F. “Whitey” Blake, 80, of East Hartford passed away on Friday, March 13, 2020 surrounded by his loving family. He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years, Janice (Meadows) Blake. David was born in Danbury, CT, the only child of the late Benjamin and Freda (Krupp) Blake of Hartford. He spent his childhood growing up on the farm in Enfield and later traveling to Florida before moving back to Hartford. He attended Bulkeley High School. He spent his life as a printer working for Allied Printing, Bond Press, and Sweet Waverly Printing. In retirement, David took great pride and pleasure as the care taker of the Scheinberg Compound in Haddam Neck. He was a gifted and talented wood-worker and perfectionist in all things he worked on.

He was a kind, loving person with an infectious smile who always made you feel welcome. To many, they would often refer to him as a “gentle giant” because of his tall stature and great hugs. Most important to David was his family. He took great pride and joy in any and every event with his family. He should be given an award for his ongoing attendance at over 50 years of dance recitals. He loved watching UCONN Women’s Basketball with his good friend Don Snyder and the Red Sox. He was an avid boater and loved anything by the ocean. He was also known for his passion of food and often could be found eating his way through vacations. Ice cream was his solution to all things and would fondly say “ice cream makes everything better”.

David is survived by his three children, Dawn Blake-Holmes and husband David of East Hartford, David E. Blake and his wife Jane (Callison) of Glastonbury, and Douglas A. Blake and his wife Maria (Matarazzo) of South Glastonbury. In addition, he is survived by his seven treasures, his grandchildren, Jaclyn (Holmes) Austin and husband Joshua of Cromwell, Mathew L. Holmes of Brighton, MA, Amanda J. Blake of Plainville, Janice M. Blake of South Glastonbury, Allen D. Blake and fiancé Erica Yuscavitch of Glastonbury, David F. Blake II and his wife Alicia (Eddy) of Ocean Pines, MD, and Victoria E. Blake of Pittsburgh, PA. He is also survived by his three great-grandchildren, Blake Mathew and Mavery Janet Austin of Cromwell and Carter Allen Blake of Glastonbury.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, March 19th from 4pm to 7pm at D’Esopo-East Hartford Memorial Chapel, 30 Carter Street, East Hartford, CT, 06118. Funeral services and burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions in David’s name may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 3 Landmark Square, Suite 330, Stamford, CT 06901 or the American Parkinson’s Foundation, P.O. Box 248, Shelton, CT 06484. For on-line expressions of sympathy to the family please visit www.desopoeh.com.