PHOEBE BLUMER HORNBLOWER

1933 - 2016

HORNBLOWER, Phoebe Blumer Passed away peacefully in her home in Greenwich, Connecticut on Thursday, November 10, 2016. Born June 9, 1933 in Tabora, Tanganyika, East Africa, Phoebe was the oldest daughter of John Alder Blumer and Lady Mary Maitland Blumer of Cheltenham, England. She is survived by her siblings and their spouses: Anthony and Mary Blumer of Cheltenham, England, Peter and Helen Blumer, Wandsworth, England, Philippa and James Bell, Salisbury, England, and Christopher and Skippy Blumer of Cuddington, England. She is also survived by her three sons and their families: John Greenwood Hornblower of Snowmass Village, CO, David Maitland Hornblower and his wife, Melissa King, of New York, NY, and James Wainwright Hornblower and his wife, Fiona Trevelyan Hornblower, of Concord, MA. Phoebe was also the loving stepmother to: Rosalie Hornblower of Cambridge, MA, Ralph Hornblower, III of New York, NY, Paul Hornblower of Chilmark, MA, and Priscilla Hornblower of Cambridge, MA. Additionally, she is survived by thirteen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, all of whom adored her. Her husband, Ralph Hornblower, Jr., of Greenwich, CT pre-deceased her in March 1987 – he was a partner at the investment banking firm, Hornblower & Weeks. Phoebe's father, John Blumer, went to Tanganyika (now Tanzania) in 1928, where he was a school master in the Colonial Government service for 22 years, returning to England in 1950. Phoebe attended the Loretto Convent in Kenya from 1942 to 1949. She later became a qualified nurse, having undertaken her training at St. Thomas' Hospital in London, and then worked at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA until she moved permanently to Greenwich Connecticut upon marrying her husband, Ralph Hornblower, Jr. They married in Abberley, Worcestershire, England on October 12, 1960. Phoebe was deeply involved in the Greenwich community. She was a devout member of Christ Church, Greenwich, CT, where she served on the Vestry, the Altar Guild, Education for Ministry, Lay Eucharistic Ministry, and various Outreach Programs. She was a member of Hortulus in Greenwich, and Daughters of the British Empire. She founded the sewing program at Greenwich Country Day School, where she then taught for more than twenty-five years. She also cherished her time on Martha's Vineyard at the family property on Squibnocket Farm in Chilmark, and her involvement with St. Andrew's Church, Edgartown, MA, as well as Vineyard Open Land Foundation. A funeral service and celebration of her life will be held at Christ Church on Friday, November 18 at 11:00 AM, with reception immediately following at the Round Hill Club, Greenwich, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Church, 254 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830.

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