Obituary of Edward Winfried Blatz

Edward Winfried Blatz With great sadness, the family of Edward Winfried Blatz, a resident of Wappingers Falls since 1977, announces his death on June 16, 2011, after a long and courageous battle with metastatic melanoma. Edward was born on December 6, 1938 in Brooklyn, NY, a son of Winfried G. Blatz and Emma Morkaut Blatz. He attended St. Thomas the Apostle School in Woodhaven, Queens; Holy Trinity High School in Brooklyn; St. John's University in Queens, graduating with a B.B.A.; and took post-graduate courses at the College of Insurance in New York City. He was a member of The Catholic Kolping Society of Brooklyn before moving to Hicksville in 1965. On June 20, 1964 he married Evelyn F. Schweikert, a teacher, at Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church in New Hyde Park, Nassau County. They resided in Queens Village and Hicksville, NY prior to moving to Dutchess County, where they raised their five children. Ed began his career in the corporate insurance industry at Chubb and Sons, Inc. as a broker and underwriter before joining the firm of Alexander and Alexander, Inc., which later merged with Aon Corporation. He was Vice President for Risk Management, having his office at 2 World Trade Center, while commuting daily by train. Ed retired in 1999, and thrived in his new-found leisure, learning to ski and golf at age 61. He enjoyed traveling to Spain, Okinawa, Germany, Alaska, and the Caribbean. Other favorite activities included hiking and biking the various trails in Dutchess County and near Lake George. An avid camper, Ed loved visiting beautiful areas of the United States. Despite his many career accomplishments, Ed felt his family was his greatest achievement. When his sons were young, he was an active member of their Cub Scout Packs, serving on the Pack committees and as Webelos leader. He volunteered, as needed, at St. Mary's School, Wappingers Falls which his children attended. A life-long devout Catholic, he was a communicant at St. Mary Our Lady of the Falls Church in Wappingers Falls. He had also served as an usher at Holy Family Church in Hicksville. Edward was Secretary for the Board of Trustees of Germania of Poughkeepsie, Inc., an organization which fostered his love for and appreciation of his German heritage. He was known for his hard work; his excellent note taking; his ready smile; his willingness to help in any capacity, whether with lunches or dinners or at other events held at Germania Hall; as well as his unfailing courtesy and common sense. He was also an active member of the Steuben Society of America and the Marriage Encounter Community since 1977. A dedicated husband, father and grandfather, he spent countless hours attending his grandchildren's sports activities, plays, and concerts, as well as including them in his travels to Arizona, North Carolina, and Germany. In addition to his wife, the love of his life, he is survived by his five children, Christopher at home, Arlene Pellerin and husband, Lawrence of Pembroke, NH, Maria Silver and husband, Omar of Gainsville, VA, Kevin and wife, Heather of Pleasant Valley, and Peter and fiance, Rebecca Sottile of Poughkeepsie; his seven grandchildren, Megan, Melissa and Amanda Pellerin of Pembroke, NH, Morgan, Connor and Mara Blatz of Pleasant Valley and Tea Place of Poughkeepsie; his brother, Richard Blatz and wife, Sharon; cousins both here and in Germany; nieces; nephews and many dear friends. His parents predeceased him. Visitation will be on Sunday, June 19, 2011 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 E. Main Street, Wappingers Falls. (845-297-2610) A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, June 20 at St. Mary Our Lady of the Falls Church, Clinton Street (off Rt. 9D), Wappingers Falls. Burial will follow in the family plot in St. Mary's Cemetery. The family thanks the staff of Sloan-Kettering Memorial Hospital in New York City, Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow and more recently, Hospice of Dutchess County and aide Linda Ross, for their dedication, care and compassion. We also thank Miracle House in New York City for providing a haven for patients and care givers while undergoing treatment, as well as the Caring Bridge online support website. We are especially grateful to everyone who so generously sustained us with countless thoughtful acts, prayers, visits and messages. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Edward's name may be made to St. Mary's School Angel Fund, 2 Convent Ave., Wappingers Falls, NY 12590, Germania of Poughkeepsie, 37 Old DeGarmo Rd., Poughkeepsie, NY 12603 or to www.CaringBridge.org, www.MiracleHouse.org or to www.HospiceInc.org. For directions to the funeral home or to send the family a condolence, please visit www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.