DENNIS P. BLAKE
It’s been more than a month since Dennis “Denny” Blake died, and his wife of nearly 40 years still can’t believe it.
“He was just an awesome guy,” said Jeanne Blake, “and I loved him.”
That love began when they were both teenagers, and for Jeanne at least, it never quite went away, not when Dennis played football for the University of Pennsylvania, or served with the Marines in Vietnam or studied law at Villanova.
“He used to beat up my brother at Sunday school,” Jeanne recalled. “We grew up together. I would see him here and there. But that doesn’t mean I forgot about him, because I didn’t.”
Dennis did part of his growing up working at the family’s Collingswood funeral business, Blake Funeral Home.
“He would tell some great stories about being raised there,” Jeanne noted. “But he knew that wasn’t the path for him.”
The path Dennis did choose included roles as a law firm partner, administrative judge for New Jersey and solicitor in Collingswood. It was a career that led him to Tavistock Country Club – “his home away from home,” says Jeanne – where he played golf five or six days a week in retirement.
It was also a point of pride for Dennis to have Pine Valley Golf Club’s Blake Cup named for him. And the game was the perfect recreation for a spouse Jeanne described as a man’s man.
“He loved being social,” she noted. “He loved being out with people. And people just loved him.”
In an online memorial post, Thomas Grimac remembered how Dennis stopped to talk to him and his wife as they walked their dog.
“He was our special member-friend who always made us feel like family,” Grimac wrote. “He made Tavistock special for us both.”
Dennis’ own family included six grandchildren and six step-grandchildren. They called him boo-boo, and they sometimes responded to him with, “Ok judge.” He was always on the sidelines when they played sports.
“He was an awesome grandfather,” said Jeanne, who would sail the islands and spend a month in Florida with Dennis every year.
“I could go on and on about my husband,” she added. “He was the love of my life. He had no right to be gone first …
“Can you bring him back?”
Dennis was 79.
Sources: Kain-Murphy Funeral Services, Legacy.com
MILAN WHETSTONE
Milan Whetstone didn’t just light any room she was in, she ignited it.
The force of her personality was especially evident at Rowan University, where the Sicklerville resident and 2011 alum was assistant director of admissions for the school’s Pathway Programs.
“Milan was a valued member of the Rowan community …” the university noted in a statement. “She dedicated her career to supporting students and their families through the admissions process.”
“I’ve been passionate about helping students and families navigate the admissions process with confidence,” Milan herself said in her university bio, “because I know first hand how exciting and challenging starting college can be.”
A sociology major at Rowan – she recalled on Facebook how the grandmother who helped raise her insisted she go to the school – Milan also earned a master’s in social work from Rutgers University.
Her impact was keenly felt off campus, too. She received the Dr. William H. Myers Leadership and the NAACP Strength in Motherhood awards, and was recognized among top black leaders in the area, according to the university.
But Milan’s strength wasn’t just in her bio; it was in the people she touched.
“What started as co-workers turned into something so much more,” Charissa Patel posted on Facebook. “We got to walk through some of life’s most special moments together …”
Among them was the birth of Milan’s daughter, Nola, in 2023. But four days later, Milan was diagnosed with the Stage 4 colon cancer that would take her life.
On a Facebook page called In Memory of Milan, tributes poured in. Nikey Pierre recalled how her friend influenced people.
“Everyone I ever introduced her to instantly fell in love with her,” Pierre posted. “ … She was always the calm fire. She was always positive and never stayed down for long. A true fighter with an incredible spirit.
“She carried a light that was undeniable.”
Milan was 38.
Sources: Rowan University, Facebook
Inside the obits
On and off the field
Sports are a significant topic in the obituaries. Here are some South Jerseyans who both coached and played for the love of the game.
John Bobby Gleason Jr.’s interests were a reflection of his personality, his obituary notes. The former police officer and longshoreman was a basketball fan who loved the “camaraderie and competition on the court,” the obituary adds. An Air Force veteran, John was also unwavering in his passion for the Eagles, chicken wings and Turner Classic Movies. He was 64.
Colleen Mary Whilldin was an Audubon High three-sport athlete, one of those sports being boys’ golf. She was also fun to be around, noted classmate Sue DiPopolo in an online memorial post. “She could always make you laugh – and she had a great laugh,” DiPopolo recalled. Not surprisingly, Colleen was a physical education teacher for more than 37 years. She was 61.
William “Will” Heinel played baseball and soccer in Collingswood, where he also spent four years as a varsity high-school wrestler. He spoke often of his time with wrestling teammates and coaches, his obituary notes. William, in turn, was described as gifted, with “a wonderful soul.” He later helped coach in Collingswood and aspired to be a pro body builder. William was 34.
Angelina Marie Hamill-Perez was known fondly as Angel to her friends and family, according to her obituary. Strength and discipline helped her earn a black belt in karate, and in coaching basketball, Angelina was a “pillar of support,” the obituary adds. “She was not just a mother to her children, but to anyone she knew.” Angelina was 53.
Sources: Legacy.com, Earle Funeral Home, Foster-Warne Funeral Home, The Sun
The Good Life appears twice a month. To suggest someone who recently passed away for a tribute, email Christina Mitchell at cmitchell@donnelly.media. Please describe in a few words something about the person’s life.
