Richard Harlan Blond

February 6, 1938 – June 14, 2015

Richard Harlan Blond finally came to terms with his own mortality at the age of 77 after a long struggle with leukemia. He was born in Chicago, Illinois to Arthur J. Blond and Roslyn J. Rosenbaum. He was proceeded in death by hs parents and brother, Robert S. Blond. Richard grew up in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and Washington and Lee University in Virginia. He taught German at Lake Forest Academy before becoming a flight attendant and purser at Northwest Airlines/Delta. Richard retired on Bainbridge Island in the late 1990’s and used his energy and dedication to fund-raise for the Leukemia Foundation. He courted fashion and trend with elan and sartorial splendor, receiving the fond soubriquet of “The Count” from his fellow-fliers. Richard was a member of St. Barnabas Church and served as a proud and faithful Episcopalian.

Richard or “Rabbit”, to his close friends, was considered handsome and debonair, adopted an extravagant and elegant life-style, was known for his globe-trotting around the world, was an unabashed Anglophile, and was an exciting conversationalist who could elevate a modest dinner party into an aristocratic event. He collected fine crystal, antiques, exotic masks and hard-cover books. Even though the past three years were spent in Chicago, Richard Harlan Blond never lost fondness for the Island, for his French-speaking colleagues, or his many friendships.

A celebration of his life was held in his 77th birthday, February 6, 2015, surrounded by his friends and admirers. A memorial service will be held at St. Barnabas Church in the near future. Richard is survived by an uncle, James S. Rosenbaum, nieces, Jennifer and Samantha Blond, and close family friends, Roberta “Sissie” Evans and Thomas A. Welch, all of Chicago.

“As an imperfect man, people will in time forget what you said, people will even forget what you did or didn’t do,

But, people will never forget how important you made them feel.”