JOHN HOWLAND BLAKE III, 59 years old, passed away, to be with God and His deceased Father “John”, and His Sister Maureen on May 2, 2010.
This ended Johns long suffering from COPD. He never complained of his suffering, he simply endured the pain during his long illness. A few times during his battle with COPD, we thought we had lost him, but he came back and fought harder to survive. He became known as “The Miracle Man” at the James A. Healey Veterans Hospital. Our family is eternally grateful to the medical staff at James A. Healey Veterans Hospital, for the kindness and care shown to John over the last two years.
Throughout his life, John had a gift for writing poetry and a never ending sense of humor. In His final years, His gift never ceased. One time after a visit with His sister Denise and brother-in-law Charlie and their five children, he wrote these words in a note he left for them: “Do you know what’s the nicest part about family? I think when my days are the worst and the night seems so endless, I stare at the night sky, and say SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE, CARES!”
These words are forever cherished by His family. We Loved you then, we Love you now and will Love you through eternity, Jack.
John enlisted in the United States Air Force and served our country in the Presidential Honor Guard. He was interred with full Military Honors at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell.
John is survived by His mother and stepfather Gertrude and George Lakis, of Tarpon Springs Fla.; His brother Joseph Blake, of Tampa Fla.; His sister and brother-in-law, Denise and Charles Woolson, of Whiting NJ; His nephew David Woolson and wife Kelly with His great-nephews Gabriel and Gavin Woolson, and His great niece McKenna Woolson, all of Williamstown, NJ; His nephew and godson Matthew Woolson of Woodbury, NJ; His nephew Jason Woolson and wife Heather, of Toms River, NJ; His niece and goddaughter Jamie Reagan and husband William, of Cary, NC; His nephew and “diner buddy“ John Woolson, of Woodbury NJ; His niece Maureen Blake of Philadelphia, Pa.
Since Johns passing, a light in our hearts is forever dimmed, but now “Jack”, you walk proudly with God…
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My uncle was a great man. He was my godfather. He was probably one of the funniest people ever in my life, always knew what to say to make you smile. I miss him everyday and stare at his pictures. I know he is ok now, I know he is with his dad and sister. Going to his funeral in Florida was very difficult because I missed hearing his voice. I missed his laugh. But I know he is still around, still close to us. He wrote me this poem for my wedding day…
A godfathers wish to Jamie
I wish you a lifetime of happiness, never measured by money.
I wish you Lucy and Ethel, those moments that are funny.
I wish your children to grow handsome and strong.
I wish your children to know home is where they belong.
I wish you an abundance of grandkids for you to enjoy cause your mom always says that babysittings a joy.
I wish you health and success for one million years.
I wish you always a smile and never the tears.
I wish one day in the future if you come back here to fish that you’ll remember your godfather, your godfather with a wish.
Love,
Uncle Jack (62407)
I will love you forever Uncle Jack.
Oh Jack what will I do without you? I have so many precious memories of you and just wish we could still make more. I look at your picture and my heart breaks because I know you were not ready to leave this earth yet. God has taken you to be with him and Dad and Maureen to end your pain and suffering and I know someday we will all be together again. In the last 55 years of my life it has been an honor, and a pleasure to be your little sister. No one over the years was ever able to make me laugh the way that you could. In your short life you overcame so many obstacles and faced many challenges but you always won the battle. Your strength is an inspiration to myself and the people who really knew and loved you. Make sure your taking care of business up there in heaven and until we meet again…I Miss You and Love You more than words can say.
Your sister,
Denise
Oh Jack what will I do without you? I have so many precious memories of you and just wish we could still make more. I look at your picture and my heart breaks because I know you were not ready to leave this earth yet. God has taken you to be with him and Dad and Maureen to end your pain and suffering and I know someday we will all be together again. In the last 55 years of my life it has been an honor, and a pleasure to be your little sister. No one over the years was ever able to make me laugh the way that you could. In your short life you overcame so many obstacles and faced many challenges but you always won the battle. Your strength is an inspiration to myself and the people who really knew and loved you. Make sure your taking care of business up there in heaven and until we meet again…I Miss You and Love You more than words can say.
Your sister,
Denise
JACK,i cant understand why you had to go yet.i remember the things we talked about and what we were going to do.we had another tour to do in vegas but it never came about but it will someday. i think about you all the time an even talk to you so maybe you can give me answers.just remember jack i love you an someday the tour will begin.love your brother JOE X
I will never forget you Uncle Jack. You always knew how to make people laugh no matter what. It seemed you could always find the good in any bad situation. I have so many great memories of you. One that always seems to stick out, is how you called yourself “The Man”. You used to say that when a restaurant had a no smoking sign, if you took that sign and looked on the back it would read “Except for The Man”. I love you and I miss you. Your nephew, Jason
On behalf of my siblings, I would like to express our sincerest condolences to the family of John (Jack) Blake. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to get to know my father in my adult years but I do have memories of him throughout my childhood and teen years. There were moments when he taught me to think, taught me to listen, taught me to laugh and taught me to open my mind. My deepest regret is that my father does not know the love of country which he embedded in me and that I now have become a volunteer to various Veterans’ groups. Whatever his life, he deserves an accurate tribute. There should be a record, a record that this man lived, this man had children and grandchildren, and he had passions and flaws. There is a certain symmetry there, a sense that the good that he did will live on in the form of his children and grandchildren, running in the ocean and laughing on the sand.
So Dad, although I didn’t say goodbye in the normal fashion, I say it now, with fondness and affection for the good times, for the things you tried to do right and then I say goodbye knowing that my own passion for my country and the United States Veterans began with you, and will continue with me, and that you were my father and I AM your daughter.
Godspeed!! Love, Cindy
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK,we love an miss you.wish you were here to have your chocolate cake. LOVE MOM,GEORGE AN JOE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACK,we love an miss you.wish you were here to have your chocolate cake. LOVE MOM,GEORGE AN JOE
My special son Jack.
August 6 1950May 2 2010
I thought of you with love today
But that is nothing new
I thought about you yesterday
And the day before that too.
I think of you in silence
I often speak your name
Its been one year of missing you
My life just isn’t the same.
Miss you so much.
Much Love Always And Forever,
Mom
It has been one year of over whelming sadness for me because on May 2, 2010, I lost the finest and most unique brother any person could ask for. There really are no words to describe the longing in my heart that I feel to relive the days gone by with you. In the 50+ years that we had together, we laughed, we cried, we walked, we talked, we sang, we traveled, we smiled, we argued, we danced, we ate, we drank, we hugged, we kissed, we celebrated and we mourned. We were a rare brother and sister duo. There was always a special bond between us and there always will be. We WILL do all of these things again my most precious brother only next time we will be soaring above the clouds together. If only I could hear you call me “Pissy” one more time.
I Love You.
Your grieving sister,
Denise
Uncle Jack,
It has been one year today that you have been gone. I think about you all of the time. Whenever I have the radio on and I hear “breathless” or “follow me” I automatically smile because it makes me think of the memories of those songs with you. My mom misses you so much, but don’t worry, we are all taking care of her. I love you very much.
Love,
Your goddaughter Jamie
Uncle Jack,
It has been one year today that you have been gone. I think about you all of the time. Whenever I have the radio on and I hear “breathless” or “follow me” I automatically smile because it makes me think of the memories of those songs with you. My mom misses you so much, but don’t worry, we are all taking care of her. I love you very much.
Love,
Your goddaughter Jamie
Today is the celebration of your Birth, life as you see is short, tomorrow is not promised to anyone. When reading your memories from your Mother , sister, brother ,daughter , and nieces and nephews, I see that you have been remembered fondly . Some have very good memories of you as they were growing up, some have to fish for those memories as they did not get as many as others. But in the end you were and still are loved by those you have left behind. Happy Birthday Jack ! Love is all you need in life
My Special Son Jack…861950-5210
I thought of you with love today
But that is nothing new
I thought about you yesterday
and the day before that too.
I think of you in silence
I often speak your name
Its been two years of missing you
My life just isn’t the same.
I miss you so much Jack
Much Love Always and Forever
john h.blakeIII,,,,08061950-05022009,HAPPY 62ND BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN JACK..DANCE WITH THE ANGELS..MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU ALWAYS….MOM XXX
My brother Jack, It has been two long and agonizing years since you left us. It never gets easier…time is not healing my broken heart. I think of you everyday, i hear your laughter when I reminisce the joking that took place in the past between us, I hear your voice when certain songs come on the radio that you loved to sing and when I am in Florida, I so strongly feel your presence. I still don’t feel as though you are gone…I suppose because you are in my heart, where you will forever be. I love you, Jack.
So very sorry Jack for my last entry when I made a typographical error. It has been three years since you went to heaven…not two years. Either way it seems like forever…
Denise
jack,,,let this be a gentile remeinder that someone is missing today.someone our hearts still hold on to as we travel along lifes way.someone who wont be forgotten but cherished thru the years.and as we pause to remember him let us fondly recall how dearly each of us loved him,an oh how he loved us all.SO VERY SADLY MISSED..LOVE MOM & JOE
JOHN H.BLAKE III,08061950-05022010,,HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SON IN HEAVEN THE MIRACLE MAN..IF ONLY I COULD GIVE YOU YOUR MOUNTAIN DEW.I MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU SO MUCH!! LOVE ALWAYS! MOM XX
john h.blake111,,,,,my beloved son!a thousand words cant bring you back.i know because I have tried.neither will a million tears,i know because I have cried.i have a broken heart an memories too.i never wanted memories I always wanted you.i miss you so much,jack if only I could hear you say to me HI MOM,,,LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND I MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!! AS ALWAYS,,,MOMXX
JOHN H.BLAKE III,,,,,,HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN JACK.YOU ARE ALWAYS IN MY THOUGHTS,I MISS YOU SO MUCH.TILL WE MEET AGAIN.ALL MY LOVE,,AS ALWAYS MOM XX
JACK,,,U WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AN ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS AN MIND…LOVE&MISS U….MOM & JOEXXX
Happy 65th Birthday Jack! I hope you celebrated today in heaven for your birthday with Dad and our sister Maureen. I miss you and think of you and Maureen everyday of my life. You both left us too soon and I will never get over it. My heart carries the memories of days gone by and they make me smile but they also make me long for those days to be able to be re-lived. I love you my big brother and miss you so much. Until we meet again. Jackie boy!!!
Your forever grieving sister,
Denise
jack,,,,you are always in my heart..i miss you so much.the hurt never goes away.dance with the angels..till I see you again..LOVE AS ALWAYS!!! MOM xxx
IN MEMORY OF JOHN H.BLAKE III…AUGUST 8/6/50-5/2/10…..not a day goes by that I don’t think of you…miss you..love you…I thank god that I was blessed to be your mother..MISS YOU SO MUCH..LOVE MOM XX
08/06/1950—05/02/2010 MY SON,,IT IS 7 YEARS SINCE I LOST YOU.I MISS YOU SO MUCH..I WILL NEVER GET OVER IT..IF ONLY I COULD HEAR YOUR LAUGHTER AGAIN….LOVE YOU ETERNALLY..AS ALWAYS..MOM XX
JOHN H. BLAKE111,,,MY PRECIOUS SON! HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN HEAVEN..I WISH SO VERY MUCH YOU WERE HERE TO CELEBRATE IT…I WILL NEVER GET OVER LOSING YOU..CELEBRATE WITH THE OTHER ANGELS…I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SO VERY MUCH….LOVE YOU & HAPPY BIRTHDAY AGAIN..MOM XXOO
Happy birthday in heaven Jack. You’ve been gone 10 long years now and it never gets easier not having you here to talk to, to confide in, to just simply laugh with. I love you my big brother…i miss you my big brother…i always will 💙
Your sister Denise
P.S. give Dad & Maureen a hug from me!