Arthur Edward Blake Jr.

Arthur E. Blake, Jr. passed away on March 25, 2024 after a long hard battle. He was 75 years old. He was born in Newton, NJ to the late Arthur E. Blake, Sr. and Helen Hummer Blake. He was the oldest of seven children. His brother, Douglas A. Blake, predeceased him. Of his siblings, he is survived by Elyse (Dan) Allen, Pam Wolfe, Diane (Harold) Schank, Allison (Bob) Struble, and Andrew Blake. Art grew up in Hackettstown, NJ and attended St. Mary’s Elementary School. He graduated from Hackettstown High School with the class of 1967, where he was a three-sport athlete in football, wrestling, and baseball. He received both scholastic and athletic honors, including Most Outstanding Athlete in his senior year. Art went on to attend Western Maryland College (McDaniel) where he continued playing football, wrestling, and baseball starting his freshman year. His collegiate career culminated with him being elected tri-captain of football, co-captain of wrestling, and captain of baseball, the first athlete to accomplish these honors in the history of the college. At graduation, he was recognized as the John A. Alexander Award winner as the college’s Outstanding Male Athlete. In 2002, he was inducted into the Western Maryland College Sports Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Kent County High School, Hackettstown High School, MPSSAA Wrestling, and the Maryland Modified Softball Halls of Fame. WMC is also where he met the love of his life, Virginia Golden Blake. They were married in 1972 and spent over 51 years together in Kent County. In 1971, Art began teaching in Kent County and retired after 38 years in the school system. He helped coach football, wrestling, baseball, and lacrosse at Kent County High School and youth fields and gyms across the state. He was extremely proud of the young people whom he coached who are now giving back to their communities. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his two sons, Davey (Caitlin) and Mikey (Kelly), and his grandchildren, Parker, Presley, Julia, and JoJo. Art lived a fulfilling life and loved to fish (especially trout) and hunt. He is grateful to his family, friends, and community for allowing him this opportunity. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, April 14, from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm at Red Acres Hydroponics in Worton, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Fisher House of Bethesda at 24 Stokes Rd. Bethesda, MD 20814, Tunnels to Towers Foundation at www.t2t.org/donate, or to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate.

Arthur Edward Blake Jr.

January 13, 1949 - March 25, 2024