SCARBOROUGH – Our beloved Howard Blatchford Bliss died peacefully on Monday Oct. 13, 2025 at Gosnell Memorial Hospice House in Scarborough, following a stroke on Oct. 4. He was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Nancy Jane Donnelly who died Dec. 23, 2024.

Howard was born on Jan. 10, 1931 in Cambridge, Mass. to the Reverend Daniel and Winifred Rouse Bliss. He was brought up in Greenwich, Conn. where his father was the minister of the Second Congregational Church. After attending the local Edgewood School where he fell in love with letterpress printing in the school print shop, he graduated from The Hill School in Pottstown, Pa. in 1951.

During the Korean War, Howard was with the Army Engineers building an airfield for NATO in France in 1953. Howard married Nancy Jane Donnelly in 1958 and graduated a year later from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y. with a BS in printing management. After two years working for a large printing firm in New York City, N.Y., he joined the faculty of the Greenwich Country Day School, where he enjoyed 35 years of teaching letterpress printing to students.

Since 2005, he was an active member of the Days Ferry Congregational Church in Woolwich, where he sang in the choir and was always involved in their many community service projects..

Howard and Nancy retired to Brunswick in 1996. The following year Howard started volunteering at the Brunswick Food Bank now MCHPP (Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program). During his 24 years volunteering at MCHPP, he served on their Board of Directors as well as on the Board of Directors at the Bath Area Food Bank. In 2018, he was named Volunteer of the Year for the State of Maine for his service. He brought his kind, non-judgmental, and compassionate self to his volunteer work with the clients at the food bank, especially doing intake on the computer.

Howard was called “Papa” by his four beloved grandchildren. Through their early years, he enjoyed playing games, teaching knot tying, doing waterworks at the beach, and building boats in the boathouse. He continued to be connected with his grandchildren as they became young adults as he was always interested and supportive of their current jobs and interests. He also enjoyed time in the last two years with his great-grandson, Riley Seamans, bringing on laughter and giggles by making silly sounds and goofy faces.

He always enjoyed eating sweets, especially chocolate cake, singing in church choirs, listening to classical music, dancing to jazz and early rock ‘n roll, reading, and watching “MASH” each evening after the news.

The twinkle in his eye, his silly antics, and love of play, as well as his ever present and unconditional love will be missed by all, but especially by his family; daughter, Sarah Bliss Seamans and her husband John, son, Daniel Bliss and his wife Jody; grandchildren, Daniel Seamans and his wife Katie, Holly Seamans, Courtney Bliss Kinney and her husband Matthew, and Howard William “Will” Bliss; and great-grandson, Riley Patrick Seamans. Howard also leaves two sisters-in-law, Caroline Bliss and Joanne Carr Donnelly; two nieces, two nephews: and cousins.

In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his sister, Mary H. Bliss and brother, John W. Bliss.

The family wishes to thank Hospice of Southern Maine (Gosnell Memorial Hospice House) for the excellent care and compassion he received in his final days. The family would also like to acknowledge Howard and Nancy’s granddaughter, Holly Seamans, who was a huge presence in their lives during the last two years. She was instrumental in managing their care, doctor visits, appointments and errands, as well as being an emotional support and loving presence to them both during their final years.

A memorial service will be held in July in Georgetown.

Memorial gifts may be made to his beloved

Food Bank

(MCHPP- Midcoast Hunger Prevention Program)

https://www.mchpp.org/donate

or checks made payable to:

MCHPP

179 Neptune Drive

Brunswick, ME 04011