Robert "Bob" Cardell Blackmore

Robert “Bob” Cardell Blackmore passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on March 9, 2017, one month shy of his 91s t birthday. Robert was born on April 9, 1926, in Los Angeles to Marguerite (Cardell) and Carl Pierpont Blackmore. He was raised in Los Angeles and graduated from John Burroughs Junior High School and Los Angeles High School. Nicknamed “Blackie” by his close friends, Robert was part of a cherished band of brothers called “The Scribes,” which formed in middle school and held a reunion as recently as this past July. 

A talented athlete, Robert discovered a passion for tennis and spent much of his youth at the Los Angeles Tennis Club, forming life-long friendships. He was an avid player and teacher, and the New York State Doubles Champion in 1975. A diehard Trojan fan, Robert attended the University of Southern California from 1948-1951, where he majored in business and played on the men's tennis team. 

Following his service in the U.S. Army Air Corps, Robert started his long career in the television business as a page and sales service representative for CBS in Hollywood. Robert joined the NBC Television Network in 1953 as a sales supervisor with NBC Films in Hollywood. He moved to San Francisco and Chicago, before returning to the West Coast in 1963 to open the Today and Tonight show sales office for NBC. He left that post after two years to become a Network Account Executive in New York, where he would spend the rest of his career, rising to Executive Vice President of NBC Television Network. In that position, he was responsible for overall activities of NBC TV Sales and Marketing, including primetime, daytime, late night, news, sports and specials. In the 1985-86 television season, while Senior V.P. of Advertising Sales, Robert delivered the first $1 billion ever booked in a Primetime upfront marketplace. Robert was also responsible for the sales and marketing of three Olympics: the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, and the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. Robert's career allowed him to travel the world to many events with his beloved wife Joan. Generous to the core, he worked his magic and often provided extra tickets for family and friends. 

Robert “retired” in 1994, but couldn't stay away from the business he loved. In 1997, he was a co-founder of Studio One Networks, the first internet syndicated content marketing company. Robert also served on many boards, including as Chairman of the Board of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), Chairman of the AAF Educational Foundation Executive Committee, Chairman of the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and Chairman of the International Association of Sales and Marketing Professionals. He was inducted into the National Sales Hall of Fame in 1994 and an achievement award was named in his honor by the AAF for the winner of their annual College Chapter-of-the-Year competition. Robert was also an idea man and inventor, and held several patents. 

Referred to as “a prince among men” and “a model of integrity” by colleagues, Robert excelled at the human connection. He never met a stranger with whom he couldn't share a story. Forever optimistic, he chose to focus on the good. You couldn't help but feel happy in his presence. He was always interested in helping others and asked for nothing in return. When not running up 5t h Avenue to his office at 30 Rockefeller Center, or racing to catch a flight, or train back to his home in Riverside/Old Greenwich, Robert loved his walks on Tod's point, driving his '57 Speedster, drinking a margarita on his favorite porch overlooking the Long Island Sound, having dinner with good friends, or catching a game of tennis. Just a week before his passing, Robert was bopping to his grandson's music in Boston, enjoying a ride in his Porsche with family, reading the New York Times, and dipping his toes in the sand. “Beautiful” and “It's all good!” he said multiple times each day. 

Robert is survived by his two daughters: Robin Blackmore and her husband Pete Jalajas of Newburyport, MA, and Karyn and her husband Richard Hagy of Westlake Village, CA; four grandsons, Erik and Jonathan Jalajas, and Brandon and Brett Hagy; niece Nancy Hassen and her husband, Howard of Atherton, CA; and nephew Thomas Merryman and his wife Brenda of Mission Viejo, CA; great nephews Bill Newcomb and his wife Janet, Lindsey Serrano and husband Luis, Michael Hassen and wife Laura, Christina, Matthew and Michael Merryman, and several great-great nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Joan, and his sister, Carolyn Purdy, as well as his devoted mother-in-law Muriel “Gagie” Ruick. In addition to his family, Robert will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of meeting him throughout his life, including numerous friends on both coasts, and many in between. Finally, a special thanks to the staff at Avita Assisted Living community in Newburyport for their loving care and friendship in his last few years. 

Services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on April 8, 2017 in Old Greenwich, Connecticut at the First Congregational Church, followed by a reception. A celebration of life in Los Angeles will also be announced to family and friends in the near future. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Robert C. Blackmore to: American Advertising Federation, Attn: Robert C. Blackmore Fund, 1101 Vermont Ave. N.W., 5th Floor, Washington D.C., 20005, to support, recognize and foster talented students and young people seeking a career in advertising (not tax deductible); University of Southern California Memory and Aging Center (tax deductible), c/o Elena Taylor-Munoz, 1540 Alcazar Street, Suite 215, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323-442-7674 , http://adrc.usc.edu/donate/ ); or Greenwich (Tod's) Point Conservancy (tax deductible), P.O. Box 377, Old Greenwich, CT 06870. 

Arrangements under the care of Twomey, LeBlanc and Conte Funeral Home in Newburyport, MA. 

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