Longboat Key: Obituaries

+ James Blatt

James Blatt, 72, of Longboat Key and Harrisburg, Pa., died July 9.

Born in Ridgway, Pa., he was a 1961 graduate of Ridgway High School, where he starred in baseball and basketball. He was a 1965 graduate of St. Bonaventure University and was on the varsity basketball team all four years.

Mr. Blatt was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduation. He served in Fort Bliss, Texas, Germany and Fort Bragg, N.Y. He was a drill instructor at Fort Bragg and served as a captain until 1967.

From 1968 to 1980, he worked in various management positions with Goodyear Tire. From 1980 to 1985, he started and ran his own company in the same industry. In 1985, he started Blackhawk Bio Systems with two longtime friends. When they sold the company in 2008, he was vice president of sales.

Mr. Blatt was a member of Hershey Country Club, Bayport Beach & Tennis Club, The Owners Club of Hilton Head Island, S.C., Longboat Key Tennis Center and U.S. Tennis Association. He was a member of Holy Name of Jesus Church, in Harrisburg, Pa., and a member of St. Mary Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, on Longboat Key.

He is survived by his longtime companion, Sharon McDermott, and her children, Ryan McDermott and Maureen McDermott Ferguson; cousins, Patty Garin, Kelly Miller, Jimmy Duggan; Nan Livak; Joyce Blatt; Bob Blatt; and many other cousins and close friends.

A service was held July 16.

Memorial Contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society, Capital Area Unit, P.O. Box 897, Hershey, PA 17033.

+ Lynn Moore

Lynn Moore, 87, of Longboat Key and Stamford, Conn., died July 7.

Born in Ogden, Utah, he was the only child of the late Wallace and Martha Moore. He served his country at the start of the Korean War, enlisting in the U.S. Army at 17. He was stationed in South Korea.

After his military service, he attended the University of Colorado, where he studied accounting and met his future wife, Barbara. He graduated in 1952 and married later in the same year. The couple then moved to Chicago, where he started his career with a prominent accounting firm. He then went to work for the Hertz Corp., a career path that led him to relocate his young family to the New York area, settling in Rye, N.Y.

Rising through the ranks at Hertz, he went on to hold a top position at the firm and the title of executive vice president. He then embarked on a career as an entrepreneur and moved his family of four to Littleton, Colo., where he became partners with a close college friend in a construction company that specialized in drilling caissons. The family then moved to Greenwich, Conn., where he concluded his career as president of his own company, Management Recruiters of Fairfield County and Management Recruiters of Manatee County.
In his spare time, he enjoyed the Senior Men's Club, in Stamford, and the Mianus River Boat Club, loved to play golf and was an avid boater. He was also active in his churches in Greenwich and Longboat Key. 
In addition to his wife, Barbara, he is survived by his children, Lynette Mathias and her husband, Stephen, of Ridgefield, Conn., and David Moore and his wife, Enza, of Darien, Conn.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. July 23, at First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich, in Greenwich, Conn.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich or Christ Church of Longboat Key.