Melvin Robert Blaquiere

Melvin Robert Blaquiere, 82, husband of Mary J. Schuman Blaquiere of Colonial Drive in Ipswich, died Monday, December 9, 2019 at the Masconomet Healthcare Center in Topsfield, following his long illness.

Born in Ipswich on January 17, 1937, he was the son of the late Maurice Romeo Blaquiere and Margaret Allard Blaquiere, and was raised and attended public schools in town. Melvin is an honorable US Navy veteran.  He served mainly on a Naval Icebreaker, the USS Atka, which sailed in and around the Southern Ocean and the South Polar Region to Antarctica in the 1950’s.

Melvin worked for the Town of Ipswich for more than thirty years, in various roles for the Highway Dept., Water Dept., as Animal Control Officer and as Ipswich Shellfish Constable. He loved seeing and spending time with his family, especially his many grandchildren.  He cherished his recent trip to Florida to meet his great grandchild Liam.  He loved playing golf and spending time with his friends at the Candlewood Golf Course in Ipswich.  He helped organize and host the first USS Atka Naval reunion, which he very much looked forward to attending each year.  Melvin loved his hometown of Ipswich where he had many lasting friendships.

In addition to his wife Mary of  forty-three years, whom he married in Briarcliff Manor, NY, he is survived by three sons, George M. Martinson and wife Shelli of FL, Timothy F. Martinson and wife Valarie of Melrose, Ian S. Blaquiere and wife Elizabeth of Merrimac; two daughters: Sharon Van Ry of TX and Kelly-Anne Martinson of Newburyport; eight grandchildren, Tara, Aron, Crystal, Timothy, Kimberleigh, Laci, Clara, Oscar, and one great grandchild, Liam. He is also survived by one brother, Gordon Lee Blaquiere of Groveland; one sister, Linda Lou Blaquiere of Barrington, NH and many nephews and nieces. He was the brother of the late Romeo Francis Blaquiere formerly of Ipswich, the late Margaret Catherine Burns formerly of CA and the late Edith Pearl Clock formerly of ME.

A Celebration of His Life will be held Saturday, December 14, at 11:00am at the Immanuel Baptist Church,45 Central Street, Ipswich with a reception to follow. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home of Ipswich. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his name may be made to Masconomet Healthcare, 123 High Street, Topsfield, MA 01983 and or Hathorne Hill, 13 Kirkbride Avenue, Danvers, MA 01923.

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