Bruce Borsum Blake, 80, passed away on Monday June 15, 2015 in Bar Harbor Maine. He was born on September 9, 1934 in Queens, New York, the son of Winchester and Elsa (Borsum) Blake.
He was married to the former Margaret Stebbins of Schenectady for 55 years prior to her passing in 2013.
Bruce grew up in New York City and graduated from Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan. He received a BS degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an MS from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology the following year. During his summers in college, he worked for the Appalachian Mountain Club as a hutman (Zealand ’52, Carter ’53, Madison ’54) in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. After graduating from MIT, he joined the Vertol Aircraft Company, Morton, PA. Vertol was acquired by Boeing in 1960, where he remained for the next 37 years until his retirement. He rose through the ranks at Boeing, retiring as Director of Research and Technology. Bruce worked on all of the helicopters manufactured by Boeing in that period. After his retirement he enjoyed volunteering at the American Helicopter Museum in West Chester, PA. Bruce and Margaret visited Maine many times, fell in love with the area and decided to retire to Bar Harbor permanently. He became actively involved in the community rebuilding trails and trail signs with Friends of Acadia, driving for Island Connections and supporting the Bar Harbor Congregational Church. Bruce loved hiking, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, model railroading and all aircraft.
He was a wonderful father and grandfather who was very proud of his children and grandchildren. Bruce is lovingly remembered by his four children; Carolyn Blake and partner Carolyn Campbell of Ellsworth, William and Valerie Blake of Xenia, OH, Nancy Blake of Windham, and Jennifer and Norman La Fleur of Stratham, NH; three grandchildren and extended family and friends in the Bar Harbor community. He was predeceased by his loving wife Margaret.
Contributions in Bruce’s memory may be made to the Friends of Acadia, 43 Cottage St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, the Appalachian Mountain Club, PO Box 16192, Hooksett, NH, 03106.