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Gordon Blaha

Gordon Ellis “Gordy” Blaha, 93, a lifelong resident of Guilford, passed away peacefully at CT Hospice in Branford on Nov. 29, 2023. His beloved wife of almost 53 years, Jacqueline Conway Blaha, predeceased him in 2006. He was the devoted dad of Michael (Sandra) Blaha of Guilford, Russell (Vivian) Blaha of Sylva, North Carolina, and Stephanie Blaha of Guilford. He was the best Grampy to four adoring grandchildren: Christopher (Melissa) Blaha, Adam (Jennifer) Blaha, Elizabeth Blaha, and Kristen (Nathaniel) Sirois; and Great-Grampy to six beautiful great-grandchildren: Evan, Madigan, Colby, Tobias, Maisie and Lillian. He is also survived by siblings Kenneth Blaha of Madison and Janet (Alfred) Hodder of Turlock, California, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by siblings Doris Greenwood, Herbert “Bud” Blaha, Eleanor Hubbard, William Blaha, and Frederick Blaha.

Gordy was born in Guilford on June 3, 1930, to the late Edith Catherine Ashman and Frederick Louis Blaha. He grew up on Lower Whitfield Street, a few doors down from Bernice’s Restaurant and right down the street from his favorite place, the Guilford Sluice Dock. In his early years, he learned boat building and lobstering from his dad, was an occasional farmhand at the Watt farm on Water Street, cut grass for old Goodspeed in Madison, and helped put on clambakes on the beach at Guilford Point for Judge Conway. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1948 and reported to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station for Basic Training. He proudly served during the Korean War on the U.S.S. Franklin D. Roosevelt aircraft carrier until his honorable discharge in 1952.

In April 1953, Gordy and Jackie eloped to Bel Air, Maryland, and spent almost 53 “glorious” years together. In the early years of their marriage, Gordy worked at his family’s restaurant at the dock, The Captain’s Table, as the bartender and assisted with food preparation, logging hundreds of hours cleaning shrimp, opening clams for Bud’s famous chowder, and picking out over 200 pounds of lobster meat per day. During the off-season, Gordy worked for Carlis Walker and Frank Tichy doing plumbing and electrical work and for J.J. Sullivan delivering oil. He also became the primary caretaker of Guilford Point.

In 1958, Gordy opened Cap’n Fred’s Marina at the dock, which he operated for 12 years, selling and servicing boats and boating equipment. Over the next 20 years, he opened and operated the 1776 Spirit Shoppe in Guilford and Guilford Concrete Products. Even after he retired, he still worked part-time at Morse’s Feed Mill in Guilford and continued to maintain and haul his lobster pots. He was always busy with projects around the house and could always find a way to fix anything. He loved tending to his vegetable garden, his black raspberry patch, and his Georgia Bell peach tree, fruits of which he used to make his homemade pies and delicious jam.

Gordy worked hard his entire life, but he loved to have fun. Whether it was enjoying family activities and events, attending parties with his large group of lifelong friends, Friday night dancing with Jackie at The Wharf, traveling, monthly poker games with his best buddies, skiing out West with the Waldo Ski Team, or organizing “Field Day” activities at Guilford Point, he loved every minute of it. He became quite the wine enthusiast over his lifetime. His perfect day would be sharing a good bottle of wine with his family and friends on his deck overlooking Long Island Sound at Guilford Point!

Gordy will be remembered as a really good guy who would do anything for anyone, and everybody liked. He will be deeply missed by his great friends and loving family.

Friends are invited to calling hours from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 11, at the Guilford Funeral Home, 115 Church Street, Guilford. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the Guilford Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will follow in Alder Brook Cemetery, 375 Boston Street, Guilford. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to The Guilford Keeping Society, P.O. Box 363, Guilford, CT 06437 or directly on their website at www.guilfordkeepingsociety.com. To share a memory or leave condolences, visit www.guilfordfuneralhome.com.