Blair Williams
10/27/2006 BLAIR WILLIAMS JERICHO - Blair Williams, 96, died peacefully in her lovely home on Cilley Hill in Jericho. Blair was born in Marquette, Mich., to Herbert Howard and Mabel Keith Shaw Williams on July 18, 1910. Blair moved with her family to Toronto, Canada, and subsequently to Brooklyn, N.Y., where she attended Packer Institute in New York, and then went on to earn bachelor's and master's degrees in foods and nutrition from Michigan State University. After graduating from Michigan State, Blair returned to Brooklyn and taught at Pratt Institute. In 1941, while visiting dear friends of her mother's in Vermont, Blair found herself entranced with land on Cilley Hill. Within a week she purchased 150 acres of Cilley Hill, much to the distress of her friends, and a few months later moved to Vermont. She never regretted it. Blair taught foods and nutrition in many areas of Vermont before becoming a professor at the University of Vermont. Her long career at UVM culminated in her becoming chairman of the Department of Home Economics retiring to Professor Emeritus status in 1976. Soon after moving to Jericho in 1941, Blair became very active in the community. She was a school director, an initiator of the Jericho School Hot Lunch Program, donated land that the Jericho Center library is situated on, and coordinated the First Congregational Church chicken pie suppers for over 30 years. Blair was instrumental in establishing the Jericho Historical Society in 1969, was heavily involved in the acquisition and restoration of the Old Red Mill, and helped establish the Old Mill Craft Shop. Blair was also the point person in getting Wilson “Snowflake“ Bentley wellknown for his photos of snowflakes through her work with 4H groups and promotions with other groups around the globe. Although Blair was very active in many areas of Jericho life and elsewhere, she always said that her accomplishments were minimal. Her words were that many people were involved, and that she “would not have done anthing if I had not wanted to.“ Blair always had her door open to all. She was always ready to help people in need, be it bringing meals, or sharing her home, or sharing her resources. Her expertise as well as her soft shoulder and excellent advice were available to anyone who needed her. She is survived by her niece Judith Williams Boudah and husband Maurice; nephew Timothy Shaler Williams and wife Joanne; grandnieces and grandnephews, Keiko Williams, Timothy Williams, Judith Buxton, Niall Buxton, John Boudah and wife Tammy, Hephzibah Williams and Owain Williams. She is also survived by five great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, and by many friends especially the Cilley Hill Partiers. Blair was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Herbert and Keith, nephew Herbert; and by a dear friend, Vera (Vic) Chadburn. Special thanks are in order for Home Share Vermont, and that wonderful organization Hospice, and especially for Nurse Mary Loney and caregivers Nancy DeGraf, Valda Roye, Regina Hyde, and special caregiver Liz Waller. Their spirit and energy allowed Blair to be happy and content in her home during her illness. Memorial contributions in Blair's memory may be made to VNA Hospice, 1110 Prim Road, Colchester, 05446, Home Share Vermont, 187 St. Paul St., Burlington 05401, Essex Rescue Inc., 1 Educational Drive, Essex Junction 05452.