Pamela 'Pam' Blessinger, past VIA president
Pamela "Pam" Blessinger passed away Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at Delaware Hospice after a long struggle with leukemia. She was born Jan. 27, 1944, in Queens, N.Y., to Thomas and Roberta (McNamee) Archbold.
She leaves her husband of 37 years, Peter; and children Peter Barry, Brian, Luke and Kim; five grandchildren, Peter Anthony, Pierce Emanuel, Cameron, Parker and Gavin; and brothers Timothy and Michael Archbold.
Pam had a large circle of close friends from her years of membership in the Village Improvement Association, the Rehoboth Art League Pottery Studio, Saint George’s Chapel, The Osher Academy of Life Long Learning, Sussex Family YMCA and the Chapel Green community.
While still an infant, her family moved to Massapequa Park, Long Island. Pam attended Greenbrier College in Lewisburg W.Va., and graduated in 1963 with an associate degree. In 1991, while raising children, Pam earned her bachelor of arts degree from Southern Connecticut State University with honors. She was enrolled in the Ph.D. program at the City University of New York in 1992-93.
Upon graduation from Greenbrier, Pam worked as a financial journalist at Forbes Magazine and Institutional Investor Magazine. After starting her family, Pam worked as a freelancer, and her articles appeared in Datamation, Money, Institutional Investor and other financial publications. She also worked as an English teacher at Amity High School in Woodbridge, Conn., and served as the registrar of voters in Woodbridge.
Pam and her family spent many years living on Roosevelt Island in New York City. She was president of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association and a board member of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. The family moved to Woodbridge in 1987. She was very devoted to the well-being of her children and the enrichment of their lives. Pam was active in her children’s school PTAs, Little League Baseball, the Boy Scouts and was a Girl Scout troop leader.
In 2000, with children raised and themselves ready for retirement, Pam and Peter moved to Lewes, settling in Chapel Green. In the last several years Pam enjoyed traveling to NYC with the Osher Academy of Lifelong Learning, catching a Yankees game at the stadium, going to Broadway shows and sightseeing. She would travel to Sugarland, Texas and Mt. Pleasant South Carolina to visit her grandchildren, and looked forward to family reunions in Mattituck, Long Island and Key Colony Beach, Fla.
Pam had a wonderfully rich personality, an open mind and great sense of humor. She made everyone feel her friendship and love. Many people have remarked that they have never met anyone quite like her.
There will be a Mass and celebration of her life at All Saints' Episcopal Church, 18 Olive Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Friday, June 12, at noon, followed by a reception at the Village Improvement Association clubhouse, N. Boardwalk at Grenoble Place, which is about two blocks north on the Boardwalk.
The family is very grateful for the wonderful care and compassion that Pam received at the Tunnell Cancer Center. We are especially thankful for the humanness and skill of Dr. Srihari Peri and the cheerful nurses and staff who attended to her these past two years.
In lieu of flowers Pam requested that you make a contribution at www.beebehealthcare.org/ foundation/Make_a_Gift. Include Tunnell Cancer Center and then put in memory of "Pamela Blessinger," or to any of the other nonprofit organizations that Pam participated in.
