Alan Rogers Blackmer, age 86, died on December 4, 2023, in North Pomfret, VT. He was born October 21, 1937, in Lawrence, MA to Alan and Josephine (Bedford) Blackmer and grew up in Andover, MA.
He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, MA where his father was an English teacher and the Dean of Students. He spent a gap year studying at Christ Hospital in England before, majoring in social relations, he earned his A.B. magna cum laude from Harvard College where he was a member of Lowell House and the Harvard Class of 1960. He received his Master of Arts in Teaching from Harvard University in 1962.
Alan's foray into education began as he accepted his first English teaching position at the Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, CO. Alan joined the Peace Corps and was in one of the first waves of volunteers under the directorship of Sgt. Shriver. He taught English in Nigeria from 1963-1965. He often reflected on the meaningful experiences and friendships that resulted from his service abroad. Upon Alan's return to the states, he spent a year as the director of the Phillips Academy summer session.
Alan married Iris Vardavoulis in December of 1966. Alan and Iris moved to Cleveland, OH where he was the director of the Teacher Enrichment Program for the Cleveland Public School System. From Cleveland, they moved to Cambridge, MA where Alan worked as Dean at The Harvard School of Education. In 1971, they moved to Northampton, MA where his first daughter, Alexis, was born in 1972 and where he received his Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts in 1973. Upon acquiring his Ed.D, Alan became the headmaster of the Independent Day School in Middlefield, CT where he served for six years and where his second daughter, Amanda, was born in 1976. Alan and Iris were later divorced. Alan continued his career in Education Administration at the Portledge School in Locust Valley, NY and then became principal of Todd Elementary School in Briarcliff Manor, NY.
Alan married Mary Shepherd in 1988 and acquired two stepchildren, Melissa and John-James Shepherd. They resided in Mamaroneck, NY. Alan went back to school and earned an MLS from Long Island University/CW Post in 1990. He worked as a business librarian at Scudder, Stevens & Clark in New York City until retiring in 2000.
Alan and Mary then moved full time to their much beloved spot in North Pomfret, VT where they could indulge in their love of nature. Over the 35 years of their marriage, they shared many adventures by trekking through Europe and Great Britain, hiking to the heights of Mt. Washington, and the depths of the Grand Canyon. Walks up Camel's Hump and Mt. Mansfield were numerous. Grandchildren were introduced to the joy of nature by climbing Mt. Cardigan at an early age. Tractor rides were always enjoyed by the little ones sitting on Granddaddy's/Grandpa's lap and steering around the upper meadow. His grandchildren also loved joining him to pick peas and raspberries from the gardens he tended before lighting the coals for one of his famous weenie roasts. He extensively studied weather patterns and always had a forecast at the ready.
Alan was an accomplished tennis player and played a great deal with his older brother, Don and brother-in-law, George Beatty. Alan was a true fan of the Red Sox and Patriots to the very end. He was a member of the Freelance Family Singers in Woodstock, VT for many years and served on the Pomfret Zoning Board since 2005.
Alan is predeceased by his brothers, Donald and Frederick Blackmer, and sister, Noelle Beatty. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Mary; daughter Alexis Ackerman, husband Josh, and their children Melia and Alex of CA; daughter Amanda Bouchet and her children, Sebastien and Seraphine of Paris, France; stepdaughter Melissa Porter, husband Robert, and their children Brittany and Nicholas of TX; stepson John-James Shepherd, wife Lindsay, and their children John and William of NY; also his brother-in-law, George Beatty, of Colorado, and many dear nieces, nephews and friends.
A memorial service is planned for July 2024. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Upper Valley Haven 713 Hartford Ave., Hartford, VT 05001. An on-line guestbook can be found at cabotfh.com.
