Lawrence G. Blakley

NEW SALEM - Lawrence G. Blakley, a lifelong learner and reader of books, died Sunday, May 24, 2015 at UMass Memorial Medical Center, at the age of 79. He was born October 30, 1935 in Gardner, the son of the late Walter and Mildred (Campbell) Blakley. He grew up in Athol and graduated from Athol High School in 1953. He received his B.A. from UMASS, Amherst. After a brief career in the Executive Development Program at Hartford National Bank, he accepted a position with Aetna Life & Casualty. During his 30 year career at Aetna, he worked in advertising, marketing, communications and sales promotions. He was then named a Corporate Officer and also headed the Office of Consumer Affairs. In this position, he was responsible for all Property Casualty Division customer relations, publications and communications to agents and customers county wide. He later assumed responsibility to oversee Divisional Quality Management. He was a guest lecturer in communications, marketing and consumer affairs at the University of Hartford, and at association conferences and corporate seminars all across the country. He was a former partner of Media 6 Advertising, a Hartford/New York based advertising, marketing and public relations agency, and he served as a Medical Service Corps Officer in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He was President and a lifelong member of the Advertising Club of Greater Hartford. He also served on the Executive Committees of the Insurance Advertising Conference, and the National Insurance Consumer Affairs Council. Larry loved giving to his community. He was a member of the Greater Hartford Jaycees and served on the Executive Committee of the Insurance City Open, later known as the Greater Hartford Open, and currently called the Travelers Championship. In South Windsor, CT, he served on various Town Committees. These included the Public Building Committee, the Transportation Commission, the Personnel Board of Appeals and the Republican Town Committee. Here in New Salem, he served as a member and Chair of the New Salem Public Library Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Library Building Committee, Member of the New Salem Capital Improvements Committee and a member and President of New Salem Academy Board of Trustees. Larry often cited his proudest civic moment to be the expansion and modernization of the Town’s Library with its dedication in 2006. In addition he was also a long time member of the North Quabbin Masonic Lodge. He is survived by his cherished wife of 57 years, Constance V. (Voelker) Blakley; two loving daughters, Laury Jane Blakley of Herndon, VA, Kimberly R. Blakley of New Salem; three beloved grandchildren, Alexis Krueger, Elle Krueger and Cheyenne Sargent and his sister-in-law, Caroline Blakley. He was predeceased by his brother, Leslie W. Blakley. A simple graveside Masonic service will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, May 29, 2015 at Silver Lake Cemetery (upper section), Athol. There are no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to North Quabbin Masonic Angel Fund c/o Axel R. Larson, 34 West Street, New Salem, MA 01355 To send an online condolence please visit www.higginsoconnor.com. Higgins-O'Connor Funeral Home 146 Main St., Athol is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });