Joseph A. Blake, III, was born in Watertown, New York. He was the son of Joseph Augustus Blake, Jr., Yale Class of 1916, and Agnes Phelps Lansing Blake. He graduated from Watertown High School.

Freshman year Joe roomed in Durfee with Tom Brownell and Joe Hargraves. Subsequently, he was a resident of Calhoun College. He majored in zoology receiving his B.S. After graduation, Joe entered medical school and received his M.D. from Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn. He served his internship and pediatric residency at Albany Medical Center. He then had a pulmonary fellowship at Albany Medical Center where he helped establish the standards of care for ventilated patients when ventilators were first introduced in the 1960's. He worked in both the Adult Intensive Care and the Newborn Intensive Care units and was credited with helping save hundreds of lives with the new technology.

In the 1970's Joe and a colleague established a pediatric practice in Clayton, New York, together with an equipment rental business. He and his partner took turns running the business and the practice. Ultimately, they dissolved the pediatric practice and Dr. Blake took over B&F Equipment, a construction equipment business in Clayton where he also resided. He was quoted as saying, "I would rather have the state dictate how I run my bulldozer than how to treat my patients."

On December 27, 1971, he married Linda L. Berner in Albany. Together they raised a family of two sons and two daughters.

In addition to his interest in all kinds of construction equipment, Joe had a passion for trains. He traveled throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to photograph them and to ride on restored lines. He also enjoyed boating, aviation, science and history. His obituary in the local newspapers observed that "he seemed never to forget anything he had ever learned and was often consulted by family, friends and business organizations to tap his wealth of knowledge. He will always be remembered for his love of children."

In recent years he became a member of the Watertown Mennonite Church. He was devoted to its pastor and the congregation and was influential on various projects that the church was undertaking.

Joe died at home. His funeral was held at the Watertown Mennonite Church and he was buried in Brookside Cemetery, Watertown.

In addition to his wife of 34 years, he was survived by his sons, Frank L., of New York City and Glenn J. Of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and his daughters, Sarah R., of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Carol E., of Clayton. He also was survived by his brother-in-law, Cobart Hunt and wife Wendy of Dryden, New York, and his nephew Adam Hunt of Freeville, New York.

The family requested that donations be made in his name to the American Heart Association, Northern New York Division in Syracuse.

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