Obituary of Ellis Wilfred Blood

Dateline: Mariaville Lake

Ellis Wilfred (Bill) Blood, 87, of Mariaville Lake, passed away December 30,2020 due to complications from dementia and Parkinson’s disease. He was born on May 26, 1933, to Amos and Mildred Blood of Potsdam, N.Y.  He leaves behind his loving wife of 66 years, Robin Thatcher Blood and four adult children, Michael William, Bobbi Jay, Scott Christopher and Kari Lynn, daughter-in-law Carol Gavin Blood, son-in-law Kevin Burt, and grandchild Corrina Adair Blood. He is also survived by sister-in-law Lynn Thatcher Prisco, nephews Lee Blood, Michael Pochepan, Marc Prisco, Anthony Prisco and nieces Nancy Blood Thoman, Nanci Prisco Colby and Cathleen Prisco Gouveia. 

     Ellis met his wife-to-be Robin in middle school at Potsdam. They were married in Schenectady on New Years Eve in 1954. Ellis joined the Apprentice Program at General Electric. His studies were interrupted by a three year enlistment in the Army, beginning in 1956. He was trained in radar, electronics and code interception equipment repair In the Army Security Agency.  Ellis returned to Schenectady to complete the GE apprentice program and earned the title of manufacturing engineer. He held many managerial positions during his nearly three decade career with the GE, including research technician, production foreman and quality control manager in the Medium Motors Division. He also worked as a manager in the GE ElecTrak division, which manufactured electric tractors. 

    After retiring from the GE, Ellis joined his friend and business partner Richard Coffin in owning and managing rental properties throughout the capital district. They also owned and operated Carmen Courts in Guilderland for many years, where his generous and caring nature was evident to all who knew him, as he often donated his time and “jack of all trades” skills whenever asked to do so. 

     Ellis and his family lived for many years in the Buell Heights (Ballston Lake) area, then lived in the West Hill neighborhood of Rotterdam between 1972 and 1997, where he was active in the West Hill Association. He then had a new home built on Mariaville Lake by friend and neighbor Mike Griffin, and became active in the Mariaville Civic Association. In 2014, Ellis was given the Cooper’s Award in recognition of 17 years of outstanding service to the Mariaville Lake community, which included being a board member and Lake Management Chairman. 

     Ellis was predeceased by his parents and a brother, Craig Blood, a sister Wilma Blood Pochepan and a son-in-law Joseph Attanasio.  Ellis was loved and appreciated by his many friends throughout his life, and dearly loved by his family for his caring and self-sacrificing nature. He will always be remembered and deeply missed. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065 or to Homeward Bound Dog Rescue of New York, Ltd.
P.O. Box 5782 Albany, NY 12205.Online condolences www.glenvillefuneralhome.com