Blackstone, Fred J., Jr., March 24, 2015.
BURLINGTON, VT – Fred J. Blackstone, Jr., passed away on March 24, 2015, in the UVM Medical Center in Burlington. He was born in 1919 in Caribou, the son of Fred and Eva (Whittier) Blackstone of Caribou.
Fred was a curious man, which led him to many adventures on untraveled paths around the world. At age 19, he went around the world on a Norwegian tramp steamer as a helmsman. He “jumped ship” in Montreal just as WW II started. Fred was a gunner/radioman, on combat aircraft, and then commissioned as a first lieutenant to command an Army Air Corps squadron; then serving in the Philippines as communications officer in the 5th Air Force. After the service, Fred was a “bush pilot” in Alaska and Canada. He most enjoyed flying seaplanes and flight instruction. He became an engineer for Boeing, did property appraisals, and played a key role in installing the Atlas ICBMs at Air Force bases during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He felt his life’s major accomplish-ment was patenting a force limiting device that enabled live human volunteers to survive uninjured in head-on autocrashes over 50 mph. Besides flying his planes up and down both coasts with his family and on business, in his later years, he enjoyed many long solo flights.
Fred was exceedingly grateful for his wonderful wife of 55 years, Madeline (Sutter) Blackstone, who predeceased him in 1998. He adored his lovely companion, Lani Gerrard, in his twilight years – an adventure of both mind and heart. Surviving him are his two daughters, Dorothy Spivak and Sandra Gilles; and four grandchidlren.
Condolences may be sent to Blackstone, P.O. Box 781, Burlington, VT 05402.
