Stuart Healy Blackburn, 87 of Marco Island, FL, formerly of Windsor Locks, played his final round on September 6, 2008. He is survived by his wife of 63 years Mary (Vella) Blackburn, his two daughters, Nancy Rogers and her husband John of Southington, and Susan Senia and her husband Guy of South Windsor, his son Glenn Blackburn and his wife Kathy of Windsor Locks, his ten grandchildren Willa, Martha, Peter and Jeffrey Rogers, Jamie and Marc Senia, and Andrea Senia Jones, Nicholas, Sarah, and Margaret Blackburn, and his great granddaughter, May Parzych, each of whom he was very proud. Stu was born in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, and spent his early years in Feeding Hills, Mass., and in Windsor Locks. He had the good fortune to spend many summers at Congamond Lake as a boy, where he became a champion diver. After Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Marines and fought in the South Pacific. Although he was very proud of his Marine heritage, he, like many in his generation, believed his service to his country was not extraordinary or heroic, just the duty of a good citizen. Upon returning to the States, the handsome, cocky Marine met his match in Mary Vella, and she remained the love of his life. Stu and Mary settled down in Windsor Locks to raise their family. Stu often spoke fondly of his days as a milkman for Hoods with a route in Hartford, but he spent the majority of his working life “kicking thinner cans” as a salesman of automobile paint and supplies for Auto Paint, Inc. in Hartford. While he enjoyed all sports, and was an avid fan of the Red Sox and the Patriots, golf was his passion. He joined the Suffield Country Club in 1948 and played there as often as he could until he moved to Florida in 1989. Stu was a fine golfer and had the gift of being a fierce competitor while always remaining a gentleman. He and Mary rarely missed a party at “the club”, and when they got on the dance floor, everyone took notice. He was famous for his sharp wit and dry humor, and his friends and family will be quoting him forever. Stu loved his wife, his family, his country, his golf, and his five o’clock cocktail, usually in that order. Whenever the clock strikes five we will think of him Family and friends will gather on Thursday, September 11, 2008 by 10:00 a.m. at Windsor Locks Funeral Home, for a procession to St. Mary’s Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the convenience of his family. His family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Windsor Locks Funeral Home, 441 Spring Street, Windsor Locks, CT 06096. Stu’s family would like to thank the entire medical team at the Hartford Hospital cardiology unit for the care and compassion that they showed to him and to his family during his final weeks. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either Windsor Locks Dollars for Scholars, c/o Ms. Nancy Levy , 20 Sherwin Lane, Windsor Locks, CT 06096 or CREC Hearing Impaired Program (honoring his granddaughter Jaime Senia), 111 Charter Oak Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106. For additional information, directions or to extend an online expression of sympathy, please visit: www.windsorlocksfuneralhome.com.
