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NORWALK, Conn. -- Norwalk resident Liam Blair, age 92, died at home on May 22.
Blair, the son of the late Michael and Elizabeth Blair, was born on Oct. 12, 1922 in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the British Army serving during WWII, attaining the rank of Sergeant Major.
Blair left his parents and 11 siblings in 1948 at the age of 26 and sailed to the United States on the Queen Mary before settling in the Bronx, N.Y., and becoming a United State citizen in 1954.
He married Mary ‘Doreen’ Sheridan on Sept. 11, 1949. The two were married for 66 years.
Blair, his wife, and three children moved to Norwalk, Conn., where he lived for 51 years. In 1981 Blair purchased Rowlison Agency Insurance and operated it until his passing.
Blair became President of the Norwalk Rotary Club in 1974 and worked with the Rotary Literacy Program delivering dictionaries to Norwalk elementary schools. The organization honored him with the Paul Harris Fellowship and in 2010, he became an Honorary Rotarian Member.
He joined the John O’Donnell Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1966. Additionally, Blair served on the boards of the Salvation Army, the Norwalk YMCA and was the Chairman of Easter Seals.
Blair sang every Sunday for 30 years as a member of the Saint Philip’s Church Choir.
In addition to his wife, Blair is survived by a daughter Colleen, her husband James Sposta of Norwalk and their son James and his wife Karen; a son James, his wife Connie and their daughters Kelly and Megan of Norwalk; a son Robert of Lake Stevens, Wash., and his daughter Tiffany; and a son John, his wife Hope and their children Liam, Caitlin, and Dillon of Norwalk. Blair also leaves three great-grandchildren: Anthony, Angela, and Nicholas Sposta.
He is also survived by his sisters Marie and Mary Rose. Blair was predeceased by his sisters Maureen, Bridget, Rita, Josephine, Philomena, Bernadette, and Theresa, and his brothers Michael and James.
Calling hours will be from 4-8 p.m. on May 26 at the Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Ave, Norwalk. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Phillip Church, 1 Father Conlon Place, Norwalk at 11:30 a.m. on May 27.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army, 14 Byington Pl., Norwalk, Conn., or to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To leave an online condolence, please go to collins-funeral.com.
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