Charles Duane Blinn

1927 - 2025

Charles Duane Blinn
Charles Duane Blinn, beloved husband of 63 years to Dora (Stoll) Blinn, died at his home on Lake Waramaug on March 11. He was a resident of the town of Warren, CT at the time of his death.
He was born in New Milford, CT on October 11, 1927. He was predeceased by his parents, Mary Newberry Blinn and Charles Pratt Blinn.
Raised in New Milford, he was a graduate of Yale College and Yale University School of Law. After graduation from law school, he served as a clerk for Judge Carroll Hincks of the United States District Court in New Haven. In September 1952 he joined the Hartford law firm of Day, Berry and Howard and became a partner at the firm in 1957 and retired in 1997.Specializing in public utility law, he was a leader in many of the changes that took place in the latter half of the 20th century to public utilities in New England, including the construction of the first nuclear power plants at Haddam Neck in Haddam, CT and Millstone Point in Waterford, CT. He was one of the creators of the New England Power Pool (NEPOOL), established in 1971 as a voluntary association of 99 energy market participants from the six New England States. In 1991, he represented his client, Northeast Utilities (now known as Eversource Energy), in the acquisition of Public Service Company of New Hampshire. He served on many boards, including a State of Connecticut commission that provided advice on the amendment of the state's corporation law, various mutual funds sponsored by Phoenix Mutual Insurance Company, and the legal committee of the Edison Electric Institute. He was a member of the American Bar Association's Energy, Public Utility and Communications Law Section for over 50 years.
He and his wife traveled extensively throughout the United States and the world. He leaves behind five children, Judith Blinn Oliver, Charles Robert Blinn, James David Blinn, Margaret Blinn Cabral and Rosemary Blinn Jones, in addition to eleven grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation at Lillis Funeral Home on Sunday March 16, from 2pm-4pm. A graveside service will be held on Sunday March 23, 2025, at 11am in the New Milford Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations may be sent to either Steep Rock Association in Washington, CT, P.O. Box 279 Washington Depot, CT 06794 or the Institute for American Indian Studies, 38 Curtis Rd. Washington, CT 06793.