Winifred Anne Blatchford

Winifred Anne (Marich) Blatchford, born on June 15, 1937, passed away peacefully with her children by her side on July 11, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Winnie was born and raised in San Pedro, CA to parents of Croatian descent. After graduating from San Pedro High School, Winnie earned a full academic scholarship to UCLA and graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in Spanish. Winnie then joined Acción International, a community development organization founded in 1961 by fellow UCLA graduate Joseph Blatchford that placed volunteers in Venezuela to help local communities build schools, sanitation systems, and health centers. After five years, Joe offered Winnie a leadership position with Acción's new program in Brazil. Joe and Winnie moved to Rio, where they worked all day, danced all night on the beaches and in the discotheques, and fell in love. They married in 1967, raised a family, and enjoyed 53 years of love and partnership.

Winnie worked as a real estate agent in Washington, DC with Taylor Real Estate. She was active with DC Public Schools in the 1980's as the president of Lafayette's Home and School Association, as a founding member of Parents United for DC Public Schools, and as a member of Mayor Marion Barry's citywide Advisory Committee on Education. Winnie regularly volunteered at So Others Might Eat (SOME), a DC homeless shelter and food kitchen. She served on the Children's Health Board at Children's Hospital, where she helped set up community health clinics throughout DC for children in need. Winnie spent her Sunday mornings at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, where her children attended Mass with her and participated in CCD classes on Tuesday nights.

Winnie was an excellent cook who loved to experiment with new recipes while weaving in elements of her Croatian heritage. She was an avid reader and enthusiastic member of a book club with many of her good friends in the DC area. Winnie loved sports and remained a devoted UCLA Bruins, LA Lakers, LA Dodgers, and Washington Commanders fan to the end. She read the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal every day and kept up with world events and politics. Impressively, she completed the Washington Post and New York Times crossword puzzles every day and always managed to solve the notoriously formidable Saturday puzzles. Mostly, she was a beloved mother, wife, grandmother, daughter, sister, and friend. Winnie will always be remembered for her radiant smile, generosity, upbeat personality, warm hugs, and fierce intelligence.

Winnie was predeceased by her beloved husband Joe, who passed away in 2020; her parents, Anna Victoria (Roje) Marich and Vincent Nicholas Marich; father-in-law George Blatchford; mother-in-law Zoe Blatchford; step-mother-in-law Anne Blatchford; sisters Norma March and Antoinette Marich; and brother Vincent Marich. Survivors include her daughters Andrea and Antonia; son Nicholas and granddaughter Elliette Ann Blatchford; Anwar McQueen (Nanea McGuigan) and Zoe Kaulana McQueen; sisters-in-law Beatrice Ballance and Barbara Winslow; niece Anne Winslow; nephews Joseph Winslow, James Winslow, and Justine Mutone; and numerous beloved cousins and friends in California, Croatia, Washington, DC, and beyond.

All are invited to an informal Celebration of Life on September 13, 2025, from 12 to 3 p.m. at the Virginia Mae Center on the grounds of the National Cathedral, 3510 Woodley Road NW, Washington, DC 20016.

In lieu of flowers the family invites donations to: New Heights Youth Inc. (founded by Nicholas Blatchford) https://www.newheightsnyc.org/donate and TEAM Inc. (founded by Anwar McQueen) https://www.weareteaminc.org/donate.