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Donald Jackson VanBlake

1921 - 2018

Donald Jackson VanBlake obituary, 1921-2018, 96, Plainfield

Donald VanBlake Obituary

Donald Jackson Van Blake

Plainfield - Donald Jackson Van Blake, 96, of Plainfield, NJ, originally a member of the U.S. 10th Calvary, Founder of the Plainfield Tennis Council which later transitioned to the Donald Van Blake Tennis & Education Foundation, and charter member of Omicron Chi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. passed away on June 5, 2018.

Mr. Van Blake was born on August 9, 1921 in Plainfield to the late Harriet Ellen and Henry Van Blake. He graduated from Plainfield High School and after serving in the Army, graduated from Hampton Institute, now Hampton University in 1952.

Mr. Van Blake was a metal shop teacher at Hubbard Middle School and coached both the boy's and girl's tennis teams at the Plainfield High School for 30 years. In 1991 he was named the Star Ledger and Courier News Coach of the Year. In 2008, Mr. Van Blake, the "ambassador of tennis" in Plainfield, was inducted into the Junior Tennis Foundation Eastern Tennis Hall of Fame for his community service and promotion of tennis of Plainfield youth.

Donald also served as a Committee member of the Democratic Party of Plainfield for 15 years. He also served as Chairman of the Plainfield Chapter of the NAACP.

Mr. Van Blake is survived by his son, Donald David Van Blake, daughter, Evelyn Renee Goins, personal friend, Barbara Wallace, and a list of other family members and friends.

Memorial Services will be held Sunday, July 29th 3:00 PM at the Donald Van Blake Tennis Courts, 1325 Randolph Road, Plainfield, NJ 07060.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Courier News on Jul. 12, 2018.

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July 30, 2018

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

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Memorial service

3:00 p.m.

Donald Van Blake Tennis Courts

1325 Randolph Road, Plainfield, NJ

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