Gloria Blauhut dies at age 87

Gloria Blauhut, a former longtime Piermont, NY, resident who was a teacher, artist, businesswoman and dedicated community volunteer, died on Wednesday, July 17, 2013, at her home in New York City after a brief battle with cancer. She was 87.

A native of New York City, Mrs. Blauhut lived in Millbrook, NY, and then the Battery Park City community in Lower Manhattan in her retirement. She was a patron of the arts and world traveler who continued her passion for exploration until her recent illness.

Born on Thanksgiving Day 1925, she was the daughter of Leonard O. and Elizabeth R. Constantine. On Oct. 6, 1957, she married Donald Blauhut and they lived in New Jersey, California and later settled in New York. Mr. Blauhut, a retired advertising and public relations executive renown for his work in print, radio and television, died Saturday, April 3, 2004.

Mrs. Blauhut, as a child, was educated in New York City schools and was a graduate of Pelham High School in Pelham, NY. She was a graduate of Colby Junior College in New London, NH, received a bachelor of arts degree in art therapy from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY, and earned a master’s of arts degree in art therapy from New York University in 1977. Mrs. Blauhut received her New York State Teacher’s Certificate in 1977 and was a member of the American Art Therapy Association.

In the 1960s, Mr. and Mrs. Blauhut were active in Democratic Party politics in Rockland County, NY, and they were both active in the community in their longtime home of Piermont in Rockland County, NY. In Piermont, Mr. and Mrs. Blauhut lived for many years in the Quackenbos house, which they purchased and lovingly restored. They later moved to a smaller home that they built along the Sparkill Creek in Piermont.

On March 4, 1967, Mr. and Mrs. Blauhut opened The Piermont Emporium, which they operated on Piermont Avenue in Piermont. The “country store” sold antiques, as well as contemporary decorative accessories, candles, soaps and delicacies. The store served as a role model for many similar shops that would open in communities nearby such as Nyack, NY.

Mrs. Blauhut was a volunteer for the Piermont Library, serving on its board, and was active in the Piermont Civic Association. She was able to combine her love of the arts, culture, education and business when she became manager of the gift shop at Lyndhurst, a National Trust Historic Site in Tarrytown, NY.

Previously, Mrs. Blauhut was shop coordinator at Bruce Museum, Greenwich, CT, was sales coordinator for Mottahedeh & Co. in New York City and was an assistant buyer in cosmetics for Bonwit Teller & Co. in New York City. Mrs. Blauhut also operated Hand Made From the Manse, a crafts business.

While living in Millbrook, NY, during her retirement, Mrs. Blauhut was active at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church, Lithgow, NY. After moving back to New York City, Mrs. Blauhut was an active patron of the New York City Public Library and the city’s many arts and crafts museums.

Mrs. Blauhut was also an avid crafter, who was gifted at needlepoint work and continued on needlepoint projects up until her recent illness.

Mrs. Blauhut is survived by her three children, Lisa (and husband William) Demarest of Nyack, NY, Adam (and wife Regina) Blauhut of Berlin, Germany, and Brad Blauhut of Watervliet, NY. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Sarah Demarest and Sam Demarest of Nyack, NY, and Kolja Blauhut and Amelie Blauhut of Berlin, Germany; and, nephew and nieces Judy Pote, Robert Constantine and Sandra Peinado.

She was the sister of Leonard R. Constantine, who died in 2007.

Arrangements are being handled by Hannemann Funeral Home, Nyack, NY. A Celebration of Life memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, at 11:30 a.m. at Hannemann Funeral Home, 88 S. Broadway, Nyack, 845-358-0573.

Family members would like to thank the staff of The Hallmark of Battery Park City, 455 North End Ave., New York, NY, Visiting Nurse Service of New York and home aides of Partners In Care and Avondale Care Group for their kind and caring assistance to Mrs. Blauhut.

In honor of her lifelong love of animals, family members request that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Mrs. Blauhut’s name to either the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, 3 Oakland Ave., Menands, NY 12204, or Hi-Tor Animal Care Center, 65 Firemens Memorial Drive, Pomona, NY 10970.