Obituary of Frank H Blatz

Frank H. Blatz, Jr. 10.29.1935 – 2.1.2020 The world lost one of its best this week. Frank H.Blatz, Jr known to many as ‘Pete,’ died peacefully in his home on the morning of February 1. Frank lived most of his life in Plainfield and was a resident of Juno Beach, Florida. He graduated from Plainfield High School, as the class president in 1953, spent a Post-Graduate year at the Taft School, where he graduated as a Salutorian in 1954, Graduated from Dartmouth College in 1958 with Distinction in Economics, and from Harvard Law School in 1964. He was also a member of the United States Marine Corps from 1958-1961, where he served with the First and Second Marine Air Wings as an Airfield Operations Officer with the rank of Captain. Though Frank practiced law for most of his adult life, first with his father and then on his own in both New Jersey and Florida, he had many other passions and commitments throughout his life. He was the Mayor of Plainfield from 1969-1974. He was also the President of the NJ Conference of Mayors in 1978, the Borough Attorney for Fanwood 1976-1988, a Member of the Board of Trustees of Union County College for 30 years and the Chairman of that Board 1989-1993. He was also a member of the Board of Trustees of Wardlaw-Hartridge School, a Governor of Muhlenberg Hospital and a Director of the Calvert Group of Funds in Washington DC. Throughout this time as Mayor, he met several presidents and was appointed by Richard Nixon to be a member of the Board of Trustees of the US Railway Association. He also co-owned a sporting goods line and an ice cream store. Frank was an avid collector of all sorts of things including beer cans, sports memorabilia, coins, stamps, antique weapons as well as many other seemingly less significant things like matches, cardboard coasters, beer steins, drink stirrers and much more. And he always had a camera in his pocket to commemorate life’s events. Frank was loyal financial supporter of many institutions and organizations, especially ones related to education. He endowed several scholarships at Wardlaw-Hartdridge and Union County College and was a very generous supporter of the Taft School and Dartmouth College, among others. Frank enjoyed being a member of Plainfield Country Club, the Loxahatchee Club, and The Log Cabin Gun Club. He was a nationally ranked squash player for several years, and was the Club Squash Champion at Plainfield Country Club 14 times over four decades. He also attended Cape Cod Sea Camps and Outward Bound. Frank was predeceased by his first wife, Joan (Potter), and his oldest son, Greg. He is survived by his son Eric, his wife Joanne (Moss), and by his beloved grandchildren: Caroline, James, Margaret, and William Blatz, and Nicole Murray and countless friends. Frank was an amazing role model to everyone he knew. It is rare to know someone who chooses to do the right thing every single time he is confronted with a decision. He was one of those people. When talking about his life he once paraphrased Kipling by saying – I have seen my share of triumph and tragedy and have learned to deal with them both equally. Semper-Fi In Lieu of flowers – please send contributions in Frank’s name to the ALS Association. www.als.org/donate The ALS Association PO Box 37022 Boone, IA 50037-0022 There will be a visitation on Tuesday, February 4 from 4-7:00 at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd, Watchung, NJ 07069 The service will be on Wednesday, February 5th at 10am at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 414 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ 07090 with a burial following at Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains.