Craig Blanchard

Craig Blanchard, 72, of Hubbardsville, NY, passed away on Aug. 15, 2024, after losing a battle with cancer. Craig was born on Aug. 7, 1952, to Wendall Blanchard and Evelyn Bardrof in Oriskany Falls, NY. As the youngest of three children, Craig was a very fast runner and a talented soccer player. He also showed early talent in piano as he received daily lessons from his mother who was a piano teacher and concert violinist. From a young age Craig learned how to be a savvy traveler as he visited 18 European countries when he was 9 years old, and missed his high school senior year for a trip around the world when he visited 17 more countries. He graduated from Mohawk Valley Community College with a degree in electrical technology.
He met his wife of 46 years through his church's Pairs and Spares social group on a canoe trip. Charlotte was wooed by Craig's charm, good looks, and exceptional musical talent. She asked him to play Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin on their second date, and by the third date he proposed and she accepted. Craig continued to play music throughout his lifetime which started in a rock band, and later as an organist and choir director for local churches, the music program director at his daughter's elementary school, and he voluntarily played at local nursing homes with his cousin who is a lovely singer. Since music didn't pay the bills, his day job was at Colgate University's Purchasing and Salvage Department where he worked for 37 years.
Craig leaves behind his wife, Charlotte Blanchard of Hubbardsville, NY; his daughter, Erin Dorrance, son-in-law Rich Dorrance, and granddaughters Vivian and Valerie Dorrance of Tampa, FL; his son, Ashley Blanchard, of Hubbardsville, NY; his sister, Leslie Bain, of Doylestown, Ohio; and his brother, Eric Bardrof, of Deming, NM.
Craig's family and friends will always remember him as a family man who valued experiences over things, a world traveler, an extremely talented musician, a man of few words with a kind heart, a popcorn connoisseur, and an avid hiker who loved to hike far beyond the beaten path.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. Emailed invites will be sent by Monday, Aug. 19.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Burgess & Tedesco Funeral Home, 25 Broad St., Hamilton, NY 13346.