Eileen Diana Blau, 92, Died; Longtime Westporter, Artist, Golfer, Tennis Player

Eileen Diana Blau, 92, of Westport, CT, passed away on March 9, 2023 in her longtime Westport, CT home.

Born Eileen Lefkowitz, in Brooklyn on July 8, 1930, she was a first generation American whose Ukrainian born parents immigrated less than a decade earlier. Father Norman (Nachman) was from Bratslav, and a direct descendant of the famed Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav.  Mother Mae (Manya) was from a business family in Pechera, a nearby village in the same province of Vinnytsia.

Eileen graduated from Brooklyn College with a B.S. in Mathematics, and it was at a college Socialist Youth League gathering that she met a fellow student, Barry Blau. They were married in 1948 and enjoyed a fabulous 69 year marriage until Barry’s death in 2017, bringing into the world four children, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. 

A passionate reader, artist and collector, Eileen filled her stunning mid century modern home with thousands of books and an eclectic art collection ranging from Flemish tapestries to Indonesian Buddhas, ancient Chinese mirrors and sculptures of her own creation. And it was in the basement of this home that she helped her husband launch his business, Barry Blau & Partners which he grew over 20 years into a leading global advertising agency.

Once her children were grown, Eileen pursued a life of almost infinite interests. She was an avid golfer and tennis player at Westport’s Birchwood Country Club. She had a Manhattan apartment, also art-filled, which was a launching pad for attending classes at the China Institute and the Asia Society, and making frequent visits to museums, galleries and auction houses. 

For many years, Eileen and Barry also maintained a vacation home on the Big Island of Hawaii, which was a frequent winter gathering spot for the entire extended family.

Above all else, Eileen lived for that family --  as the most devoted and loving mom and, after raising her own children, lavishing attention on the grandchildren and great grandchildren, proclaiming each one more amazing than the last. 

In addition to her parents and husband, Eileen was predeceased by her elder sister Rita Kannel. She is survived by her younger sister, Anita Metz; her children: Shawn Blau and Emily Blau (Robert Cohen) both of Westport, CT, Peter Blau (Barbara Blau) of Belmont, NC and Juliet Jenkins (Bruce Jenkins) of Belmont, MA. She is also survived by grandchildren Lucy Thomas (Kyle Thomas), James Blau, Michael Blau (Julie Blau), Lucas Jenkins, Maddie Jenkins, Tess Jenkins, Benjamin Cohen, Veronica Blau and great-grandchildren Claire and Charles Thomas.

Funeral services will be held on Monday March 13 at 11:00 AM atAbraham L. Green & Son Funeral Home. Shiva will be observed at the Blau home in Westport, CT the same day from 1:00-6:00 PM. For more information and to share a condolence message, visitwww.greensfuneralhome.com.

Teens at MoCA Westport Holds Teen Film Showcase

Last night at MoCA Westport the teen council held its Teen Film Showcase, featuring a variety of work. Ava Waldman, as President of the council, introduced the countless creative films.

Photo by Cami Vynerib.

Morning Weather Report: Here we Snow Again

Today:

A 20 percent chance of rain after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 44. Light and variable wind becoming south around 6 mph in the morning.

Tonight:

Rain and snow, becoming all snow after 1am. Low around 33. Wind chill values between 25 and 30. Northeast wind 7 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Winter Weather Advisory begins at 6:00 PM.

Tomorrow:

Snow before 1pm, then a slight chance of rain between 1pm and 4pm. High near 43. Wind chill values between 25 and 35. North wind 13 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible. Winter Weather Advisory ends at 10:00 AM.

Tomorrow Night

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 29. North wind 8 to 11 mph.

Fire Department Responds to Brush Fire along I-95 in Westport

Contributed photo

The Westport Fire Department responded to a brush fire on interstate 95 northbound between exits 18 and 19 this afternoon.  First arriving fire companies found a large area of brush burning and quickly spreading.  Firefighters immediately began extinguishing the fire, but it quickly spread and crossed over the train tracks.  This necessitated a stoppage of all Metro North and Amtrack trains traveling through the area.  Firefighters from Wilton and Weston responded to the scene with water tankers to provide water supply for the operation from the highway side of the incident.  Utilizing access off Gray Lane, Fairfield Firefighters assisted Westport Firefighters extinguish the fire on the opposite side of the tracks.  The fire was extinguished and contained to approximately 1.5 acres.  The cause of the fire is unknown currently.