Raymond L. Blair, Jr.
God, Country, Family, Notre Dame
Raymond L. Blair, Jr., 88 of Kearny passed away peacefully at home on January 16, 2020.
Funeral is from the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr. Kearny on Tuesday at 8:30 AM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Kearny at 10 AM. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Visitation is on Monday from 3-7 PM at the funeral home.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, Ray lived in North Arlington before moving to Kearny 50 years ago. He graduated from Queen of Peace High School in 1948. In school, Ray was known to his classmates as a kind, humble and overall swell guy. He most definitely carried these traits with him throughout his entire life. Mr. Blair proudly served in the Marines during the Korean War. After his service, Ray worked at Port Newark as a longshoreman for many years until retiring. Always on top of his health and fitness, Ray was an avid walker and weight lifter. He would double-time it up his many stairs at home, and especially loved walking the hills in Kearny, consistently conquering the challenging Peden Terrace.
Ray was a big Notre Dame fan, and treasured pilgrimages out to the games with his family. He even had the opportunity to travel to Dublin, Ireland in 2012 for the Notre Dame vs. Navy game.
Ray was the beloved husband of 51 years to Patricia (nee Hanney) Blair; loving father of Eileen Blair and Danny Blair and his wife Margaret; and dear grandfather of Jillian Blair. He was predeceased by his siblings Mary VanVolkenburg, Edna Guenther, Ann Blair and Peter Blair. He is also survived by his loving pups Molly, Derby, Butters and Manny O’Toole.
Ray Blair was a strong, quiet, dignified gentleman’s gentleman; and will be forever missed.