Roger C. Blake Jr. of Chelsea, formerly of Falmouth and West Tisbury, died on Thursday, Nov. 23 after a lengthy illness. He was 86 and the husband of the late Eileen Blake for 48 years.
Roger was born in Falmouth to Roger C. and Mary (Parker) Blake.
He attended school in both Falmouth and Martha’s Vineyard, graduating in 1949. He completed one year at Brigham Young University before entering the Navy at the start of the Korean War Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1953. After his service, he completed his degree in history at Brigham Young University. He started a teaching career in Falmouth, and continued on Martha’s Vineyard, teaching shop and math for 25 years. He loved teaching and was a director at the Edgartown Boys Club. He coached many of the Island teams, including junior varsity baseball and basketball.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and shellfishing with his friend Kathy Spiro. He retired in 1989, and started his new career of charming Islanders, tourists and celebrities alike as the face of Eileen Blake’s Pies.
Roger is survived by his children: Karen Blake of Oak Bluffs and her children, Jason, Alec, and Lynlee; Roger Blake 3rd of Falmouth and his children, Laura and Carrie; Robert Blake of Worcester; Irene LaCross of Rutland and her children, Joshua and Brandon; Erik Blake and his wife Catie of Oak Bluffs, and his children, Parker, Izabella, Addison; and Mary Ellis and her husband Gary of East Falmouth and their son, Cayton. He is survived by his grandchildren Douglas, Sarah, Coral and Justin, the children of Douglas and Linda Blake, who predeceased him.
He is also survived by surrogate grandchildren Anya and Connie Toteanu; his brother, Douglas Blake of East Longmeadow, and sister, Eva Webber of Falmouth.
Visiting hours will be held on Friday, Dec. 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home in Oak Bluffs. A graveside service will be on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 9:30 a.m. at the West Tisbury Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Chelsea Soldier’s Home, 91 Crest Ave., Chelsea, MA, 02150.
An online guestbook is available at ccgfuneralhome.com.
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