Virginia M. Blaney

November 16, 2011

Mrs. Virginia “Ginny” M. Blaney, 65, died Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, after a two-and-a-half year struggle with cancer.
Blaney was born Dec. 31, 1945 in Waukegan, Ill., the daughter of Kenneth R. and Elise Metzler.
She graduated from Wooster College (Ohio) in 1967 and earned a master’s degree in German from Colorado University (Boulder, Colo.) in 1972, where she met and married Benjamin Blaney in 1969. She taught German and later English as a second language at Mississippi State University for 20 years and at Wood Junior College for four years in Mathiston.
In Starkville, Ginny was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church, where she served as elder and clerk of the session.
A summer resident of Ironbound Island in Frenchman Bay since 1969, she moved to Salisbury Cove year round with her husband when he retired in 2001.
Ginny was a devoted teacher and musician. She played oboe through college, later adding soprano, alto and tenor recorders to her repertoire, and was a founding member of the Pine Tree Consort on Mount Desert Island. She sang in church and community choirs and choruses, including Trinity Presbyterian Church choir, Starkville Community Chorus and the acappella vocal group Crossfire in Starkville, and the Bar Harbor Congregational Church choir, Acadia Choral Society, and the Mount Desert Summer Chorale in Bar Harbor, Maine.
She was introduced to the mountain dulcimer in Mississippi, and it became a true passion for the rest of her life. Looking to share her enthusiasm, she taught several dulcimer classes for Acadia Senior College, leading to the formation of two mountain dulcimer groups on Mt. Desert Island, the Blueberry Jammers and the Blueberry Pickers. She also performed on the hammered dulcimer.
Ginny also devoted much time and effort in behalf of Acadia Senior College, where she not only taught, but also served two terms on its board, one term as vice president, and served on several committees.
She is survived by her husband of 42 years Benjamin Blaney; three sons and daughters-in-law, Weston D. & Karen Blaney of Austin, Texas, William B. Blaney & Heather Giler of London, England, and Edward J. & Debi Blaney of Alexandria, Va.; one granddaughter, Carys Blaney of Austin, Texas; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard & Dorothy Metzler of Charlotte, N.C., Roger & Helen Metzler of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.; and several nephew and nieces.
Contributions in Ginny’s memory may be made to Acadia Senior College, P.O. Box 175, Hulls Cove, ME 04644, or to Hospice Volunteers of Hancock County, 14 McKenzie Ave., Ellsworth ME 04605.
There will be a memorial service at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3.
The family wishes to thank the staffs of Hospice and the MDI Hospital for their loving care during her final journey.
Condolences may be expressed at http://www.jordanfernald.com.