Pamela McCormick Blecksmith

BLECKSMITH, Pamela McCormick After a nearly three-year heroic battle with colon cancer and exhausting all feasible treatment options, Pamela McCormick Blecksmith passed away on Friday, January 11, 2008. Surrounded by her family and dear friends in the comforts of her home, God called her home, where she was undoubtedly welcomed by her father, James E. McCormick, Jr., her youngest brother, Dr. John K. McCormick and her youngest son, 2nd Lt. James P. Blecksmith (USMC). Pam was born June 6, 1947 at the Kapiolani Women's Hospital in Honolulu, HI. She attended Manoa Elementary School and was actively involved in a Brownie Troop and the Girl Scouts. An avid swimmer, she swam competitively for Punhaou School from 6th - 9th Grades. In 1962, her family left for the mainland, settling in San Marino, where she and her two younger brothers attended San Marino High School. Pam was Student Body Secretary as a senior and active in several service organizations, including the San Marino chapter of National Charity League, for whom she was presented as a debutante in 1965. Leaving sunny southern California, she graduated from Stanford University, majoring in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations. During her junior year, she participated in the Stanford in Britain overseas program, spending two-quarters at Cliveden House outside of London. With her affinity for foreign languages, she studied French, Spanish, German and Russian and traveled extensively throughout Europe, behind the Iron Curtain and to Russia. Upon graduation from Stanford in 1970, she was selected as a member of Stanford in Washington and worked for Representative Bob Mathias (R-Tulare) in Washington D.C. While awaiting a job in the White House, she worked for Representative Abner Mikva (D-Illinois) for six-months. She was hired as a Staff Assistant in the White House from 1971 - 1976 (serving under Presidents Nixon and Ford), working on presidential appointments. Continuing her life-long commitment to service and charity, she was a provisional with Junior League of Washington, D.C. On February 14, 1976, she married Edward Lee Blecksmith at San Marino Community Church, and in August, moved back from Washington D.C. to San Marino. She enrolled at UCLA Graduate School of Management (Anderson School) in 1976, graduating in 1978 with an MBA. Aside from a four-year stint in Seattle (1989 - 1993), she spent the duration of her life in San Marino, a community she loved dearly. Pam was a full-time mother, homemaker and gave of her time generously to various service organizations, including Junior League of Los Angeles, Junior League of Pasadena, San Marino PTA, Pasadena Guild of Childrens Hospital, National Charity League, Board of Trustees at Flintridge Preparatory School, Mother's Club (Flintridge Preparatory School) and Huntington Library (Docent). She cultivated lifelong friendships and will be best remembered for her grace, her selfless nature and her strength of character. She is immediately survived by her husband, Edward L. Blecksmith; her surviving children, Christina B. McGovern and Charles A. "Alex" Blecksmith; her mother, Marguerite B. McCormick; her surviving brother, James E. "Kimo" McCormick III; her sisters-in-law, Alison L. McCormick and Ann C. McCormick; her granddaughter, Molly Kate McGovern; and her seven nieces and nephews. Services will be held Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Church of Our Saviour in San Gabriel (535 Roses Road West, San Gabriel, CA 91775). Contact: (626) 282-5147. Funeral arrangements and services provided by Cabot & Sons (27 Chestnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91103). Contact: (626) 793-7159 In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: The Pamela McCormick Blecksmith Research Fund. This fund will support research for the prevention of colorectal cancer USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, 1441 Eastlake Avenue, Suite 8302, Los Angeles, CA 90033, Attn: Carmy Peters.