John ""Jack"" Arthur Blackham

On the morning of January 2, 2017, Jack set out to do something that he loved; going fishing with his best friend - his brother Joseph (Jay) Blackham. With unexpected sadness, Jack suffered a heart attack. He was 75 year's young. Jack was born in the town of Flushing, New York on August 5th, 1941. He was the second child of three children, predeceased by his parents Dorothea (Bateman) Blackham and Joseph Francis Blackham.Jack and his two siblings; older brother Joseph and his younger sister, Judie grew up in Flushing New York and Riverhead, Long Island. Jack was very athletic in school and was a vital part of the Riverhead High School football team. He loved to share the mischievous, yet adventurous stories that he and his friends and brother would get into in their youth. After graduating College in 1962 from the State University of New York at Morrisville in Central New York, Jack moved to Liverpool, New York and then after marrying moved to Cicero, New York. In 1995 Jack and his wife reached ""Snowbird"" status and wintered in Cocoa Beach, Florida, until recently in 2016 making Cocoa Beach their permanent residence. Jack began his successful career working full-time as an Engineer at General Electric in Liverpool, New York for over 30years, while running a family boat livery business called ""Nelson's Boat Livery"" in Cicero, New York. Jack and his wife Mittsy also started a small cottage-industry business called ""Blackham's Studio,"" starting as a hobby and leading into something much larger; handcrafting and specializing in custom one-twelfth inch scale marble dollhouse furniture, marble flooring and marble accessories. Jacks' artisan-crafted miniatures were featured in theSmithsonian Museum, Washington Dollhouse Museum, Woodworker Magazine,Copenhagen Museum, Architectural Digest Magazine and Miniature Collector Magazine. Jack was a member of the Syracuse, New York Area Miniature Enthusiasts and had a passion for teaching his miniature furniture workshops at the International Guild of Miniature Artisans School each summer in Castine, Maine. Jack also served on the Town of Cicero New York Board of Assessment for many years and was active in local politics. Jack was a wonderful and kind Husband, Father, Brother and Grandfather. He was a man of faith and raised his family as parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi church in Bridgeport New York and Church of Our Savior in Cocoa Beach, Florida. He was a true family man spending time teaching his children how to snow ski, ice skate and love for the outdoors. He loved spending time with his four grandchildren and would frequently babysit when the grandchildren were young. Jack so loved the game of football and you'd find him sporting his favorite football team the Dallas Cowboys, he always called them ""America's Team!"" And let's not forget Jack was a connoisseur of good beer! Jack is survived by his wife of 53 years Mittsy (Nelson) Blackham, Brother Joseph F. Blackham, Sister Judith (Blackham) Waldron. Jack had three children, Robert Blackham of Owensboro, Kentucky, Lisa (Blackham) Phair of Vero Beach, Florida and James Blackham of Central Square, New York. Jack adored his four grandchildren, Taylor and Hannah Phair and Jonathan and Jarrod Blackham. He also loved being greeted by several four-legged fury granddogs and cats! A Memorial Mass to celebrate Jack's life will be held at 10:30am Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at the Church of Our Savior located at 5301 North Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Vincent De Paul Society at 5301 North Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931. You may sign Jack's guestbook at www.beckman-williamson.com. Cemetery Details Cape Canaveral National Cemetery 5525 U.S. Hwy 1 Mims, FL, 32754 Memorial Mass JAN 11. 10:30 AM Church Of Our Saviour Catholic Church 5301 North Atlantic Avenue Cocoa Beach, FL, US, 32931