Obituary for Rev. Dr. Murray Scott Blackadar
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The Reverend Doctor Murray Scott Blackadar of Providence, Rhode Island died peacefully surrounded by his family at Miriam Hospital on December 5, 2021. Murray Blackadar was born in Lowell, Massachusetts to the late Roland and Frances Blackadar. At the age of seventeen, Murray knew that he wanted to become a Presbyterian minister. After attending the College of Wooster and McCormick Theological Seminary, he became a minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Murray served these congregations: First Presbyterian Church in Lynn, Massachusetts (1961-1967); First Presbyterian Church in Levittown, New York (1967-1978); First Presbyterian Church, Stirling, New Jersey (1978-1989); Church of our Savior in West Bloomfield, Michigan (1989-1998). A caring minister to his congregants, Murray also worked tirelessly and steadily for social justice and dignity for all people in his communities, a calling that continued after he retired and moved to Providence, Rhode Island in 1999. In Rhode Island, he was deeply involved in the Rhode Island Organizing Project and worked with and advocated for refugee families as they adjusted to their new lives. He saw this work as part of the long slow march for justice that would stretch across generations and beyond his own life. The words of the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, which he kept on the wall of his office, capture the essence of his beliefs.
“Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in a lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, how virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we are saved by love.”
Nothing gave Murray more joy than his family whom he celebrated every day with expressions of love and the deepest devotion. He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Judith Vixseboxse Blackadar, his partner in all things. He is also survived by his sister, Marjorie Elizabeth Belanger of Ocean Park, Maine, and his children, Andy Blackadar (Laura Sadovnikoff), Lisa Blackadar (Stephen Byars), and Jay Blackadar. Murray loved his grandchildren with all of his heart: Adrian Blackadar, Natasha Blackadar (Viktor Gavrielov), Grace Byars, Niall Blackadar, and Benjamin Byars.
Murray was also full of creative energy and talents. He designed and made the rugs in his house, restored furniture, and was a devoted rose gardener. He was quick to help his children with house projects, leading the way in installing floors, repairing doors and windows, replastering walls, and fixing whatever needed to be fixed. He loved his travel adventures with his dear friends and his family.
Please consider a donation in memory of Murray to Beautiful Day in support of on-the-job training for refugees. You may send a check to Beautiful Day at 66 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 02904 or online at beautifuldayri.org.
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The Reverend Doctor Murray Scott Blackadar of Providence, Rhode Island died peacefully surrounded by his family at Miriam Hospital on December 5, 2021. Murray Blackadar was born in Lowell, Massachusetts to the late Roland and Frances Blackadar. At the age of seventeen, Murray knew that he wanted to become a Presbyterian minister. After attending the College of Wooster and McCormick Theological Seminary, he became a minister of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Murray served these congregations: First Presbyterian Church in Lynn, Massachusetts (1961-1967); First Presbyterian Church in Levittown, New York (1967-1978); First Presbyterian Church, Stirling, New Jersey (1978-1989); Church of our Savior in West Bloomfield, Michigan (1989-1998). A caring minister to his congregants, Murray also worked tirelessly and steadily for social justice and dignity for all people in his communities, a calling that continued after he retired and moved to Providence, Rhode Island in 1999. In Rhode Island, he was deeply involved in the Rhode Island Organizing Project and worked with and advocated for refugee families as they adjusted to their new lives. He saw this work as part of the long slow march for justice that would stretch across generations and beyond his own life. The words of the theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, which he kept on the wall of his office, capture the essence of his beliefs.
“Nothing that is worth doing can be achieved in a lifetime; therefore we must be saved by hope. Nothing which is true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore we must be saved by faith. Nothing we do, how virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we are saved by love.”
Nothing gave Murray more joy than his family whom he celebrated every day with expressions of love and the deepest devotion. He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Judith Vixseboxse Blackadar, his partner in all things. He is also survived by his sister, Marjorie Elizabeth Belanger of Ocean Park, Maine, and his children, Andy Blackadar (Laura Sadovnikoff), Lisa Blackadar (Stephen Byars), and Jay Blackadar. Murray loved his grandchildren with all of his heart: Adrian Blackadar, Natasha Blackadar (Viktor Gavrielov), Grace Byars, Niall Blackadar, and Benjamin Byars.
Murray was also full of creative energy and talents. He designed and made the rugs in his house, restored furniture, and was a devoted rose gardener. He was quick to help his children with house projects, leading the way in installing floors, repairing doors and windows, replastering walls, and fixing whatever needed to be fixed. He loved his travel adventures with his dear friends and his family.
Please consider a donation in memory of Murray to Beautiful Day in support of on-the-job training for refugees. You may send a check to Beautiful Day at 66 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 02904 or online at beautifuldayri.org.
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