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RFH 2010, Cover Stories, Passings

John Blackmore Dies at 65

Sat, Jun 25, 2011

John Allen Blackmore, policy analyst, criminal justice consultant and writer, died on Thursday at his home. He died of complications arising out of his long and courageous battle with mantle cell lymphoma. He was 65.

John was born on May 18, 1946 in Buffalo. Long time resident of both Pelham and Hamilton during various periods of his life, he attended Pelham Memorial High School and graduated from Hamilton Central School. He received his B.A. in psychology from Colgate and did his graduate work in public administration and criminal justice and psychology at George Washington University and the New School for Social Research.

John was a man of many talents. He was a founder of the Earlville Opera House; he was a reporter and managing editor for The Phoenix in Brooklyn. He combined his expertise in criminal justice with his reportorial skills as a contributing editor of Corrections Magazine and Police Magazine.

In 1981, he put his knowledge into practice as the director of court operations for Victims Services Agency in New York City and later joined the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice. He was a senior associate at The Criminal Justice Institute in Middletown, CT from 1997 until his retirement earlier this year.

In 2006, he moved back to Hamilton from Pelham Manor with his family to pursue his favorite activities: cross-country skiing, trail maintenance, hiking, walking, gardening and, last but not least, cooking remarkable meals for his friends.

He is survived by his wife, Jane Welsh, their children, Carrie and Rob, his mother, Lucia Wicker Blackmore, all residing in Hamilton, and his brother James of Albany. His father, Robert L. Blackmore, passed way in 2002.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 1, 2011 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. All who knew and loved John are welcome. A reception will follow the service in the Parish Hall. A memorial service and celebration of John’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society for stem cell research in John’s name.

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