Obituary of Robert Blake Jr.

Robert Blake Jr., 66, of Peabody died early Wednesday morning, November 23, 2005 surrounded by his family at Salem Hospital after a courageous 8 month long battle with lung cancer. He was the loving husband of Elaine J. (Currier) Blake with whom he shared 44 years of marriage. He was born in Salem on April 30, 1939, the son of the late Robert and Anne Ollie Blake Sr. and was a life long resident of Peabody. He was a graduate of Peabody High School in 1957 and later received a Bachelors of Science degree from Northeastern University in 1973 where he was a member of the Sigma Epsilon Rho Honor Society. Bob had worked in the banking industry on the North Shore for 15 years and was an assistant vice president at the Lynn Institutions for Savings before he started his career at Digital Equipment Corp in Maynard as a financial consultant until his retirement. In addition to his dedication to family and profession, he served in the U.S. National Guard as a member of the Military Police. He had been an active delegate of the Republican Party in Peabody and was a lifelong member of the South Congregational Church serving as a deacon and on numerous committees. Among his many charitable works, he served as the treasurer of the Charles B. Haven Home for Aged Men and was the founder of For the Love of Dylan, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to young mothers. He is survived by his wife, Elaine, his three sons, Robert Blake 111 and his partner, Ellen Hughes, Jonathan and his wife Lori Blake and Jason and his wife Heather all of Peabody; a brother, Kenneth Blake and his wife Lee of Florida, a sister, Judy Abdulnour of Boxford, his seven grandchildren, Joshua, Alicia, Cameron, Jacob, Kelsie, Kaitlin and Noah and many nieces and nephews. His Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday at 1:00 PM at the South Congregational Church, 60 Prospect St., Peabody. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 12 Chestnut St., Peabody facility. Expressions of sympathy may be made to South Congregational Church, 60 Prospect St., Peabody, Ma 01960 or to Hospice of the No Shore, 10 Elm St., Danvers, MA 01923.