Eben G. Blackett ’44


Eben G. Blackett ’44 died May 18 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Eb was born and raised in Newtonville, Massachusetts. He graduated from Dartmouth in 1943 in a Navy V-7 program, and completed midshipman school at Northwestern; he spent three years as an officer on the seaplane tender, Albemarle. Following the war Eb graduated with an M.S. in chemistry from the University of Michigan. Immediately after graduating in 1947 he married Marjorie Ray, whom he’d known since grammar school, and began a 38-year career with American Cyanamid at various locations, ending his career at the company headquarters in Wayne, New Jersey. He was production and technical manager of a wide range of products and catalysts for the oil refining industry and auto exhaust mufflers. Eb and Marge retired to Sarasota in 1985. They traveled extensively to six continents on birding and ecotourist tours. They were active in the Sarasota Audubon Society and the Landings Racquet Club. Eb was an excellent lifelong tennis player, playing in several leagues and winning in mixed double tournaments until age 85. His survivors include Marge, daughter Jean and several grandsons and great-grandchildren.