Carol Blackmer, 62, died on Friday, Oct. 30, in Modesto, California, following a brief illness. She was born in Modesto, and attended Grace Davis High School, as well as the Athenian School in Danville, CA. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Mills College in Oakland with a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.
Carol will be remembered for her intelligence, beauty, grace, and keen wit by those who knew and loved her. She brought her own distinctive style to everything she touched. She loved cooking and sharing meals with family and friends, was an inveterate letter writer, and never forgot anyone’s birthday. Reading was important to her, and she had a special fondness for English mysteries. She had many close friends, near and far, who she cared deeply about. She was charismatic and funny, and at the same time very insightful, compassionate, and kind.
Carol grew up on a cattle ranch in Hickman, CA, and, as part of a farming family, won many awards for animals she raised and as an equestrienne. At both the Athenian School and Mills, she excelled in academics as well as painting and dance.
In 1975 she moved to Burlington, Vermont, where she lived for 19 years. She worked as a pre-school teacher, and then as a waitress and restaurant manager at The Black Rose Café, the Daily Planet, and the Old Dock in Essex NY. She began the tradition of children’s art shows at the Planet, and was part of a group of people who created a welcoming culture around food, music, and the arts as Burlington grew and changed.
In 1994, she returned to California and worked under John Ash at Fetzer’s Valley Oaks Food and Wine Center in Mendocino County. For the last 15 years of her life, she lived in Modesto, managing the family business and caring tenderly for her parents, who died in 2013.
She is survived by her two sisters, Joan Blackmer and Anna Blackmer, as well as her step-sister, Jean Waterman, and step-brother, David Waterman. She also leaves behind nieces Misa Blackmer, Meara McGinniss, and Lila Waterman; a nephew, Kitri Waterman; a grand-niece, Erin Guy; two god-daughters, Emily Warden and Maria Frei; and her Couture, Kiger, and Stevens cousins and their children.
There will be a private memorial for Carol in Modesto in early December.
This article appears in Nov 11-17, 2015.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord. You will be missed, Carol, by all those like minded and similarly afflicted friends.
Great picture of Carol. Shows that twinkle in her eyes! We all created some fun restaurants in VT. I say we, because it took our whole group to bring the energy & culture to it’s success. Carol was one of a kind. Even though we all went our different directions, Carol was always a call & joke away. We will miss her. Cosmic love to the family. Jack
So many will miss you Miss Carol, peace and love surround you and so many memories remain. Big hug to your family, Connie
RIP Blackie! It just won’t be the same without you. Susan Hall
Oh Carol. I’ve loved you every minute since the day I met you. Rest in peace. I am so sad. xoxox
Carol. Charming, smart, warm, fun – just a delight. You made the world a better place.
I will miss you so – your cards, calls, voice, laughter. I’m feeling heartbroken, but you’ll always make me smile.
Love you, Carol …..xoxo Barbara
What a kind, compassionate soul. She made me feel loved from the inside out from the very first hug. Loved, loved, loved her laugh. Her cards and notes were a highlight of our holidays.
Carol, I wish I’d spent more time on this earth with you. You will be missed. Lots of love, Chris
Happy Birthday, Carol…We’re celebrating you today with our wonderful memories! Love you and miss you. Barbara and Chris
My memories of Carol were that she was strong and independent. She was extremely popular both because she was engaging and also that she danced and was beautiful. Like most of us Athenian boarding school students there was a need to belong since most of us were only there for a short time and left places we had been much longer. I feel a loss.