BLAKE REYNOLDS ’36
Blake Reynolds, exuberant lover of life and father of three, died at home surrounded by his family September 8 in Damariscotta, Maine. He was 93. Mr. Reynolds was born in Mount Vernon, NY, graduated from Wesleyan University in Connecticut (class of ’36) and received a Masters from M.I.T. His love of and loyalty to Wesleyan caused him recently to grant six full scholarships per year to the University.
Mr. Reynolds was an aeronautical engineer for Pratt & Whitney, assigned to the 3000-HP Twin Wasp Engine, and Lawrance Aeronautical Corporation where he worked on the auxiliary power plants used in the Elco PT boats. He moved on to Texaco Development Corporation where he worked first as a combustion engineer and then a chemical engineer until his retirement. His varied career and later life interests proved that he enjoyed learning throughout his life.
He married Sally Sergeant of Nutley, NJ, and began married life in Montclair, NJ, where two daughters were born, Laurie and Jancie. The couple then moved to Riverside, CT, and had a third child, a son George. They joined the Riverside Yacht Club and began their long love affair with boats and the water. Mr. Reynolds joined the Power Squadron and became an all-course member, also teaching half the courses offered. Fitted with such knowledge, the couple enjoyed sailboat racing and cruising New England and other areas. They lived in Riverside for 57 years.
After a four year stop at Evergreen Woods, a retirement community in North Branford, CT, the couple moved to Damariscotta, ME, where Mrs. Reynolds entered an Alzheimer’s unit of Miles Health Care and Mr. Reynolds an apartment at Schooner Cove, also part of Miles. With two daughters living in the area, Mr. Reynolds stated: “I now reside 3-minutes walk from Sal, 14 miles from Laurie and 10 miles from Jancie. I’m not moving!” Mrs. Reynolds died in 2003.
Mr. Reynolds is survived by his daughters, Laurie Asche of Wiscasset, Maine, Jancie Olson of Bremen, Maine, and son George Reynolds of Santa Cruz, Calif., and four grandchildren; Lucy and Hilary Olson and Jamandru and Judah Reynolds.
Services will be private. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Strong Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 612 Main Street, Damariscotta.