VINALHAVEN — Chandler Jordan Blackington, 88, retired John Hancock Insurance public relations executive, passed away Jan. 14, 2015, at his home on Vinalhaven.

Born in Lynn, Mass., on Feb. 14, 1926, he attended Tilton Academy in Tilton, N.H., and Kent's Hill School in Kent’s Hill and graduated from Lynn English High School in 1945. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in public relations in 1951 at Boston University, College of Communications, and completed post baccalaureate programs at the University of Pennsylvania's executive management training program. After college graduation, Blackington served on the Boston University administration staff for eight years, first in dormitory management and then as director of the college senior placement and campus recruiting program.

In 1958 he was appointed public relations director for the Greater Boston Red Cross, a post he held for 10 years. During that time he saw service at five major national Red Cross disaster operations. Later, he joined John Hancock's corporate communications staff as director of community relations. He retired in May 1988, as associate director of public relations at the firm's Boston home office headquarters.

Following retirement, Blackington served as a John Hancock planning consultant for the Boston Marathon for three years. He also joined the staff of the AARP, New England regional office, developing pre-retirement planning for area large firms. He was past president of the Public Relations Society of America, New England Chapter, a member of the Boston Advertising and Publicity Clubs, the Community Relations Group and served on multiple United Way, Savings Bonds Bicentennial and Boston Marathon planning committees.

For more than 60 years, Blackington was both a staff member and volunteer with the American Red Cross, in disaster service and public relations roles. In addition, he served on numerous boards and committees for both the Mass Bay and Concord Red Cross Chapters, as well as for the National Red Cross organization. As an avid public safety photographer, he was a familiar figure at major Boston area incidents for many years.

He was a long-time member of the Middlesex Firefighters and Wardens Association, the Box 52 Club and the Boston Sparks Club. He also served as the deputy director of the Vinalhaven Emergency Management Agency, was a board member of the Vinalhaven Historical Society and was the Vinalhaven Fire Department photographer.

He was also a member of the Union Church. Over the past 10 years, Blackington wrote a weekly column, Our View From Vinalhaven, which was widely read on the island and by hundreds of the "away" summer residents.

He was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, H. Dorcas Liddy of Dracut, Mass. He is survived by two sons, Neil P. Blackington and his wife Angela of Arlington, Mass., and their three children, Lauren Blackington and her husband Keegan Hellweg, Jordan Blackington and Jordawn Moses; and Dana Hall Blackington and his partner, Hayley Wentworth, of Vinalhaven, and their children, Dana M. and Isles.

A memorial service will be held on June 27 at 1 p.m. at Union Church on Vinalhaven.

In lieu of respects, donations can be made to the Blackington Acquisition Fund - Vinalhaven Historical Society, 41 High St., Vinalhaven, ME 04863.

“That’s all folks” - Note on the ship’s log that Chandler J. Blackinton, husband, father, grandfather and dear friend has been reunited with his true love, Dorcas, at last.

Arrangements are with the Long Funeral Home and Cremation Service.