George H. Blackwell, 97, was Loving Father, Husband

On Friday, Nov. 17 George H. Blackwell died peacefully in his home in Chilmark at the age of 97, surrounded by loved ones.

George was a devoted husband, a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, a good friend to people of all ages and walks of life. A lifelong Episcopalian, he was quietly spiritual. His gentle manner and positive approach to life inspired trust and loyalty in his professional life, and great affection among his family and friends.

He and pianist Ethel Martien met as undergraduates at Harvard/Radcliffe. During their marriage of 56 years, they raised three daughters (and several Irish setters), taught together in independent schools, and shared their love of music and nature with many friends. After a long illness during which George devoted himself to her care, Ethel passed away in 1988.

Ten years later, George and Doris Hutchings discovered each other as Vineyard Haven neighbors. Their surprise wedding, held during George's 90th birthday celebration in 1999, delighted family and friends gathered on the Blackwell family hilltop in Chilmark. Both Doris and George have many generations of family roots on the Vineyard. Each of them had retired to the Vineyard after careers as teachers and school heads in independent schools.

George's children and grandchildren fondly remember country walks with "Dad" (affectionately called "Gramps", "Papa", and "Granddad") and evenings as he read aloud from their favorite books. He loved to share his hobbies with his family, whether bird watching, developing and printing his black-and-white photos, sailing on Quitsa Pond, planting trees or tending his many indoor plants.

Born and raised in Cambridge, George attended Browne & Nichols School, Milton Academy, then Harvard College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry.

As a dedicated science teacher in boys' secondary schools, he began his career at Lenox School in the Berkshire Mountains.

After three years, he moved to Landon School in Washington, D.C. until 1942. During the remaining war years, he taught at Groton School, and in the summers did research for Raytheon. In 1944 he took his family to Lake Forest Academy in Illinois, where he headed the science department for nine years.

Always interested in the Whole Person, when asked what he taught, he liked to say, "I teach boys."

In 1953, he was called to be headmaster of The Rivers School in Chestnut Hill. During his 15 years there, he moved the school to a beautiful rural campus in Weston, built enrollment, strengthened curriculum, developed endowment, and initiated the Rivers Summer Day Camp.

For six years, he was business manager at Emerson College in Boston.

In 1974, George and Ethel retired to their hilltop home in Chilmark. Over the next seven years, he was called out of retirement several times to serve as interim headmaster at four east coast secondary schools, including Falmouth Academy on Cape Cod.

After retiring to live year-round on the Vineyard, he continued his interest in education, serving on the Chilmark school board.

Survivors include his wife, Doris; his brother, John; his sister-in-law, Louise; his daughters, Margo, Scilla, and Jane; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

At 3 p.m. Sunday, a memorial service for George will be held at Grace Church in Vineyard Haven. In lieu of flowers, at George's request, donations will be welcome at Hospice of Martha's Vineyard or Sheriff's Meadow Foundation.