BLAWIS, John Schuyler (Jack)

John Schuyler "Jack" Blawis (pronounced "bloyce") died of natural causes January 27, 2011 at the age of 98. Born September 29, 1912 in Whitesboro, New York he was the youngest of the three sons of William Sherman Blawis and Cornelia McEckron Blawis. He graduated from Woestina High School, Rotterdam Junction, New York in 1927 at the age of 15. After graduating, Jack went to work for the Albany newspaper as a reporter and member of the Newspaper Guild. He understood the threat of fascism so at the age of 30 he enlisted in the US Army's Warrant Officer Program and went ashore at Normandy the day after "D Day" with the 561st Field Artillery Battalion. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and won the Bronze Star for his bravery. After WWII, Jack worked as a surveyor and later, after graduating from University of Texas at El Paso, as a Civil Engineer. Jack married the love of his life, Patricia Bell in 1957. Twice, in 1948 and again in 1954, he steadfastly stood by Pat and their comrades under US Government persecution for their communist beliefs. Undaunted, together they struggled for peace and a better life in a socialist future until Pat's death in 1998. He enjoyed Pat's daughters, Julie and Pat, and later their many grandchildren as his own. Until the very end, Jack was active, well known and served as an inspiration to the vibrant political left community he helped to build in Tucson and Denver. He is survived by the families of Julie and Fred Trujillo and Patricia and Bob Boffa of Denver; by his niece and her family, Michele Blawis of Santa Barbara, California; and his nephew, Patrick Navailles and his family of Glendale, California. Jack is to be interred next to his loving comrade Pat in Schuylerville, NY. A Memorial will be announced soon. Arrangements by HERITAGE CASA GRANDE FUNERAL AND MORTUARY.