Richard Taylor Blair, 85, died on Nov. 19 of complications from a stroke. The son of Vernon R. Blair and Sara Taylor, he grew up in White Plains, N.Y. and graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in 1950. He was married to the former Diana Nebauer for 58 years. They lived in Armonk, N.Y. for 30 years where they raised their family and pioneered the local recycling program. Following in his father’s footsteps, Richard was a sales representative for the Heywood-Wakefield Co. and later became an independent rep. for various furniture manufacturers.
In 1991, he and his wife moved to Old Lyme where he had an active retirement. Richard shared his loved of the out of doors with his family and continued to grow a large vegetable garden and fish with friends on Long Island Sound in his boat. At the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, he and his wife started an environment committee and he also served as a deacon there. In his eighties, inspired by his love of music, he joined the church choir and took private singing lessons. He was also the treasurer of the Old Lyme Land Trust for two terms. Richard was an accomplished duplicate bridge player, well known in local bridge circles.
He is survived by his wife, two children, Linda Sargent and James Blair and their spouses, John Sargent and Joanne Blair, two grandchildren, Sara and Eric Sargent and his mother-in-law Evelyn Nebauer.
He will be missed by his loving family and his many friends. He was a man of integrity and lived his life with great appreciation, generosity of spirit, love and enthusiasm. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Old Lyme Land Trust, Box 163 or the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, music fund, 2 Ferry Road, Old Lyme, CT 06371 or The American Chestnut Foundation at www.ACF.org. There will be a memorial service at the church on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 2 p.m.