Obituary for Robert Edwin Blake
Robert Edwin Blake, 73, decorated retired U.S Navy Veteran, shellback, world traveler and sailor of the seven seas in vessels as tiny as sloops and as enormous as aircraft carriers, died Monday, February 4, 2019.
After his enlistment in 1965, Robert’s 34-year Naval career spanned the Viet Nam conflict, the cold war, Grenada, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the First Gulf War. With his keen intellect and drive, he rose quickly in rank. Eventually, he chose to transition from enlisted rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer to the Chief Warrant Officer program. He served in the Atlantic and the Pacific; from Spain to Hawai’i; on vessels as small as Destroyers to the Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy. During his travels across the globe, he was inducted into the Order of Trusty and Honorable Shellbacks by King Neptune upon crossing the Equator-an honor of which he was deeply proud (although not entirely keen to discuss the secret -and reputedly embarrassing-particulars of the ceremony).
It was during his first tour of duty abroad in Rota, Spain that Robert (alternately known to his friends and family as Bob, Bobby, Roberto, and even “Rotabob” for what soon became his favorite duty station) met and married his wife of 52 years, Gloria. Spain became Robert’s home, where his soul was most at peace. He learned Spanish, and soon spoke it with a startling fluency, even going so far as to pepper it with an Andalusian accent that endeared him to native speakers-often surprising them when they discovered he wasn’t a local. It was no accident that he chose Rota, Spain as his final tour of duty and site for his retirement ceremony. It also made perfect sense for his grandchildren to call him Abuelo, Spanish for grandpa (which tickled him to no end).
Robert’s Naval service inspired both sons to serve. His eldest son served one tour before using the G.I. Bill to move on to a career in IT Security. His youngest son has served for 12 years, and plans to follow his father’s footsteps, making the Navy his career. His daughter took a different path by serving as a public educator for the last 16 years. She was named Teacher of the Year for 2019 for Landstown Middle School and is a candidate for Teacher of the Year in the Virginia Beach school district. Robert was immensely proud of his children.
While the Navy played a major role in Robert’s life, there was more to his life as a sailor than Naval service. Among his fondest memories was sailing in the warm waters of Perth in a Dinghy, as well as sailing with his eldest son in a sloop in the waters of Pearl Harbor, Hi.
His love of sun and sea extended beyond sailboats, too. He loved the beach. Robert loved to run full-speed into the surf and dive head first into oncoming waves. An avid bodysurfer, he mastered waves from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It usually took the scratching burn of sand-rash from scraping up onto the shore repeatedly to draw him back to his beach chair (at least until the sting subsided). During that respite, he would tan. Robert was gifted with skin that tanned to a shade of brown that looked as if he’d been carved from some dark oak.
Upon returning home from the beach, his time in the sun was not over. Robert would rinse off with a garden hose and retire to his beloved swimming pool, floating on his back and smiling up in utter contentment at the sun. When his wife, children and grandchildren would join him, he was at his happiest.
After pool time, however, Robert’s true talents became known to his family. While he was unable to boil an egg without setting off the smoke alarm (yes, this actually happened), he was a Master-Chef quality Dessert-maker, skilled in the specialized art of the Ice Cream Cone. There was a special wizardry involved in his creation of these confections that thrilled his grandchildren. There are no equals to be found in any commercial ice cream store across the world. Robert Blake’s messy and magical ice cream cones were made of perfect Summer days, the laughter of grandchildren, and an Abuelo’s unconditional love.
No discussion of Robert Blake can be complete without mentioning his undying love for his Boston sports teams. Originally a son of New England, Robert never lost his love for his Bruins, Red Sox, and Patriots. His mother and father suffered in their lifetimes the 86-year World Series drought of the infamous Red Sox Curse. Robert passed on his love of the team and the game to his eldest son and grandson. Thankfully, in his lifetime he lived to share the “Reverse of the Curse” with them, including one final World Series win before his passing. Similarly, as a Patriots fan, it almost seemed as if he waited until after ensuring that the Patriots managed one last Super Bowl victory before he passed away.
Robert was an avid and eclectic reader, inheriting his love of books from his mother, and sharing that passion with his wife, children and grandchildren. Thrillers, Mysteries, Spy Novels, Science Fiction and Fantasy all filled his bookshelves. However, among his favorites was John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee. Like that fictional detective hero, Robert Blake was a Quixotic beach bum at heart, forever tilting at windmills. He was also an unabashed nerd, too, with a love for Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, King Arthur and Merlyn, and a host of other sci-fi and fantasy novels and TV shows. Not surprisingly, he passed those interests on to his children and grandchildren, as well.
Robert was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts on June 6, 1945 to Robert L. and Anne D. Blake. Robert will be remembered with love and affection by his wife Gloria and his children Richard (Kathleen); Victoria (Don) Kelley; Javier (Rachel); his grandchildren Robert and Katherine Blake; Caitlin, Victoria, and Drew Kelley; and Abigail, Alexis, Allison, and Gabriel Blake; siblings Peter (Brenda), Michele (Sean) Corbett; and Stephanie (William) Barrett. He is also survived by his cats Freddy and Coco, and his dog Lola, who misses him very much. (So do we all, Lola.)
A small and informal celebration reception of Robert’s life will be held at Graham Funeral Home at 1112 Kempsville Road, Chesapeake, VA 23320 at 7:00 PM on February 7, 2019. At his request, Robert’s ashes will be scattered at sea by the U.S. Navy ceremony by an Honor Guard at a date to be disclosed later. Those wishing to view a webcast of the ceremony may contact Robert’s son Richard for details as they become available by email at rrblake99@gmail.com.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to assist the family in defraying the costs of the final months of Robert’s medical expenses and other costs are gratefully accepted and can be made out to Gloria Blake, 5233 Lola Circle, Virginia Beach VA, 23464.
After his enlistment in 1965, Robert’s 34-year Naval career spanned the Viet Nam conflict, the cold war, Grenada, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the First Gulf War. With his keen intellect and drive, he rose quickly in rank. Eventually, he chose to transition from enlisted rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer to the Chief Warrant Officer program. He served in the Atlantic and the Pacific; from Spain to Hawai’i; on vessels as small as Destroyers to the Aircraft Carrier John F. Kennedy. During his travels across the globe, he was inducted into the Order of Trusty and Honorable Shellbacks by King Neptune upon crossing the Equator-an honor of which he was deeply proud (although not entirely keen to discuss the secret -and reputedly embarrassing-particulars of the ceremony).
It was during his first tour of duty abroad in Rota, Spain that Robert (alternately known to his friends and family as Bob, Bobby, Roberto, and even “Rotabob” for what soon became his favorite duty station) met and married his wife of 52 years, Gloria. Spain became Robert’s home, where his soul was most at peace. He learned Spanish, and soon spoke it with a startling fluency, even going so far as to pepper it with an Andalusian accent that endeared him to native speakers-often surprising them when they discovered he wasn’t a local. It was no accident that he chose Rota, Spain as his final tour of duty and site for his retirement ceremony. It also made perfect sense for his grandchildren to call him Abuelo, Spanish for grandpa (which tickled him to no end).
Robert’s Naval service inspired both sons to serve. His eldest son served one tour before using the G.I. Bill to move on to a career in IT Security. His youngest son has served for 12 years, and plans to follow his father’s footsteps, making the Navy his career. His daughter took a different path by serving as a public educator for the last 16 years. She was named Teacher of the Year for 2019 for Landstown Middle School and is a candidate for Teacher of the Year in the Virginia Beach school district. Robert was immensely proud of his children.
While the Navy played a major role in Robert’s life, there was more to his life as a sailor than Naval service. Among his fondest memories was sailing in the warm waters of Perth in a Dinghy, as well as sailing with his eldest son in a sloop in the waters of Pearl Harbor, Hi.
His love of sun and sea extended beyond sailboats, too. He loved the beach. Robert loved to run full-speed into the surf and dive head first into oncoming waves. An avid bodysurfer, he mastered waves from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It usually took the scratching burn of sand-rash from scraping up onto the shore repeatedly to draw him back to his beach chair (at least until the sting subsided). During that respite, he would tan. Robert was gifted with skin that tanned to a shade of brown that looked as if he’d been carved from some dark oak.
Upon returning home from the beach, his time in the sun was not over. Robert would rinse off with a garden hose and retire to his beloved swimming pool, floating on his back and smiling up in utter contentment at the sun. When his wife, children and grandchildren would join him, he was at his happiest.
After pool time, however, Robert’s true talents became known to his family. While he was unable to boil an egg without setting off the smoke alarm (yes, this actually happened), he was a Master-Chef quality Dessert-maker, skilled in the specialized art of the Ice Cream Cone. There was a special wizardry involved in his creation of these confections that thrilled his grandchildren. There are no equals to be found in any commercial ice cream store across the world. Robert Blake’s messy and magical ice cream cones were made of perfect Summer days, the laughter of grandchildren, and an Abuelo’s unconditional love.
No discussion of Robert Blake can be complete without mentioning his undying love for his Boston sports teams. Originally a son of New England, Robert never lost his love for his Bruins, Red Sox, and Patriots. His mother and father suffered in their lifetimes the 86-year World Series drought of the infamous Red Sox Curse. Robert passed on his love of the team and the game to his eldest son and grandson. Thankfully, in his lifetime he lived to share the “Reverse of the Curse” with them, including one final World Series win before his passing. Similarly, as a Patriots fan, it almost seemed as if he waited until after ensuring that the Patriots managed one last Super Bowl victory before he passed away.
Robert was an avid and eclectic reader, inheriting his love of books from his mother, and sharing that passion with his wife, children and grandchildren. Thrillers, Mysteries, Spy Novels, Science Fiction and Fantasy all filled his bookshelves. However, among his favorites was John D. MacDonald’s Travis McGee. Like that fictional detective hero, Robert Blake was a Quixotic beach bum at heart, forever tilting at windmills. He was also an unabashed nerd, too, with a love for Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, King Arthur and Merlyn, and a host of other sci-fi and fantasy novels and TV shows. Not surprisingly, he passed those interests on to his children and grandchildren, as well.
Robert was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts on June 6, 1945 to Robert L. and Anne D. Blake. Robert will be remembered with love and affection by his wife Gloria and his children Richard (Kathleen); Victoria (Don) Kelley; Javier (Rachel); his grandchildren Robert and Katherine Blake; Caitlin, Victoria, and Drew Kelley; and Abigail, Alexis, Allison, and Gabriel Blake; siblings Peter (Brenda), Michele (Sean) Corbett; and Stephanie (William) Barrett. He is also survived by his cats Freddy and Coco, and his dog Lola, who misses him very much. (So do we all, Lola.)
A small and informal celebration reception of Robert’s life will be held at Graham Funeral Home at 1112 Kempsville Road, Chesapeake, VA 23320 at 7:00 PM on February 7, 2019. At his request, Robert’s ashes will be scattered at sea by the U.S. Navy ceremony by an Honor Guard at a date to be disclosed later. Those wishing to view a webcast of the ceremony may contact Robert’s son Richard for details as they become available by email at rrblake99@gmail.com.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to assist the family in defraying the costs of the final months of Robert’s medical expenses and other costs are gratefully accepted and can be made out to Gloria Blake, 5233 Lola Circle, Virginia Beach VA, 23464.