Obituary for Andrew Cameron Blandford
Cameron’s incredible life was shaped by the love for his family and his devotion to his beloved wife Mickey.
Andrew Cameron Blandford died April 23, 2018 at Rappahannock Westminster- Canterbury after a two-year battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
He was born in Richmond, VA in 1940. He lost his mother, Stier Cameron Blandford in 1947. He was raised by his father, Roland Gill Blandford and his grandmother ,Effie Mae. Over the next 10 years, he lived in many places around Virginia, including Powhatan, Blacksburg and Gloucester.
In 1958, he graduated from Powhatan High School, voted as Most Athletic in his class of 33 people. He attended the College of William and Mary, where he played football and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
While at William and Mary he met the love of his life Marcia (Mickey) Lande and that began an incredible and devoted bond that would last the next 57 years.
Cameron joined the Marine Corps in 1960 and served as an artilleryman.
After graduating from William and Mary with a BA in Fine Arts,he began working at Newport News Shipbuilding as a clerk.
Cameron’s great love was for his children. He and Mickey had three sons whom he adored. While he and Mickey raised their close-knit family, he worked his way through the ranks of the purchasing department to eventually lead that group as its Director. He was soon promoted to Vice President of Human Resources and eventually retired from NNS in 1996 as a Special Assistant to the President.
Cameron was very civic minded, and during his time at the shipyard he served the community in many different leadership positions. He was the Chairman of the Peninsula United Way Fund, Chairman of the Peninsula Salvation Army, Chairman of Mary Immaculate Hospital, and actively served on the Hampton Roads Economic Council.
He was an accomplished sailor and cruised and raced all over the Chesapeake Bay with his family. He also served as a Commodore of the Warwick Yacht and Country Club.
In 1997 he and Mickey built East Point, their retirement home on the Corrottoman River. Cameron never slowed down in retirement and continued serving his new community on many different boards. He was the Chairman of Rappahannock Westminster - Canterbury and served on its board for many years. He was also the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Volunteer of the year for leading the efforts in converting the Pelican into a Marine Research Vessel. Along with his community and family involvement he reveled in his new-found friends and enjoyed their company whenever possible.
Cameron was a Collector, Sailor, Master Gerry Rigger as well as a Trapper that never caught Santa or the Easter Bunny. He was a Story Teller of Tall Tales and he was so loved by everyone.
Cameron was a devoted family man who proudly served his community and country. Many will remember his zest for telling stories and his love of bourbon.
Cameron is survived by his wife Mickey; his three sons, Scott, (Donna), Craig (Kathleen), and Kyle (Beth Anne) and his 5 grandchildren, Cameron, Erik, Mark, Drew and Eric. He is also survived by his two nieces, Leslie (Rob) and Kendall (Tim) and their children, Max, Sam, Libby, and Virginia. He was preceded in death by his brother ,Gill Blandford and father, Roland Blandford.
A celebration of Cameron’s Life will be held on May 6th at 3:30 at Rappahannock Westminster- Canterbury.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to one of the following charities:
Rappahannock Westminster Canterbury Foundation:
https://foundationrw-c.org/donation-form/
RWC Foundation, 132 Lancaster Dr., Irvington, VA 22480
Trinity Episcopal Church
https://www.trinityva.org/
Trinity Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 208
8484 Mary Ball Rd.
Lancaster,Virginia 22503
The College of William and Mary
https://giving.wm.edu/give-now/#allocation=3056andappealcode=18006 https://giving.wm.edu/give-now/
Office of University Advancement
Gift Accounting
P.O. Box 1693
Williamsburg, VA 23187-1693
Andrew Cameron Blandford died April 23, 2018 at Rappahannock Westminster- Canterbury after a two-year battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
He was born in Richmond, VA in 1940. He lost his mother, Stier Cameron Blandford in 1947. He was raised by his father, Roland Gill Blandford and his grandmother ,Effie Mae. Over the next 10 years, he lived in many places around Virginia, including Powhatan, Blacksburg and Gloucester.
In 1958, he graduated from Powhatan High School, voted as Most Athletic in his class of 33 people. He attended the College of William and Mary, where he played football and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
While at William and Mary he met the love of his life Marcia (Mickey) Lande and that began an incredible and devoted bond that would last the next 57 years.
Cameron joined the Marine Corps in 1960 and served as an artilleryman.
After graduating from William and Mary with a BA in Fine Arts,he began working at Newport News Shipbuilding as a clerk.
Cameron’s great love was for his children. He and Mickey had three sons whom he adored. While he and Mickey raised their close-knit family, he worked his way through the ranks of the purchasing department to eventually lead that group as its Director. He was soon promoted to Vice President of Human Resources and eventually retired from NNS in 1996 as a Special Assistant to the President.
Cameron was very civic minded, and during his time at the shipyard he served the community in many different leadership positions. He was the Chairman of the Peninsula United Way Fund, Chairman of the Peninsula Salvation Army, Chairman of Mary Immaculate Hospital, and actively served on the Hampton Roads Economic Council.
He was an accomplished sailor and cruised and raced all over the Chesapeake Bay with his family. He also served as a Commodore of the Warwick Yacht and Country Club.
In 1997 he and Mickey built East Point, their retirement home on the Corrottoman River. Cameron never slowed down in retirement and continued serving his new community on many different boards. He was the Chairman of Rappahannock Westminster - Canterbury and served on its board for many years. He was also the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Volunteer of the year for leading the efforts in converting the Pelican into a Marine Research Vessel. Along with his community and family involvement he reveled in his new-found friends and enjoyed their company whenever possible.
Cameron was a Collector, Sailor, Master Gerry Rigger as well as a Trapper that never caught Santa or the Easter Bunny. He was a Story Teller of Tall Tales and he was so loved by everyone.
Cameron was a devoted family man who proudly served his community and country. Many will remember his zest for telling stories and his love of bourbon.
Cameron is survived by his wife Mickey; his three sons, Scott, (Donna), Craig (Kathleen), and Kyle (Beth Anne) and his 5 grandchildren, Cameron, Erik, Mark, Drew and Eric. He is also survived by his two nieces, Leslie (Rob) and Kendall (Tim) and their children, Max, Sam, Libby, and Virginia. He was preceded in death by his brother ,Gill Blandford and father, Roland Blandford.
A celebration of Cameron’s Life will be held on May 6th at 3:30 at Rappahannock Westminster- Canterbury.
In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to one of the following charities:
Rappahannock Westminster Canterbury Foundation:
https://foundationrw-c.org/donation-form/
RWC Foundation, 132 Lancaster Dr., Irvington, VA 22480
Trinity Episcopal Church
https://www.trinityva.org/
Trinity Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 208
8484 Mary Ball Rd.
Lancaster,Virginia 22503
The College of William and Mary
https://giving.wm.edu/give-now/#allocation=3056andappealcode=18006 https://giving.wm.edu/give-now/
Office of University Advancement
Gift Accounting
P.O. Box 1693
Williamsburg, VA 23187-1693