Dorothy "Pete" Blackadar

Dorothy “Pete” Blackadar died on September 15, 2024.

Pete was born on September 5, 1925, the daughter of Chester and Dora Jackman Nutting. She was raised in the Northeast Kingdom and graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in 1943. Although having no children of her own, Pete had numerous “children” over the years. To name those closest to her, the first one was George “Pucky” Kelley. He came to live with Pete and her first husband, Sterling Nichols, in June 1951. Unfortunately, Pucky died unexpectedly in November 1951. Terry Ball came to live with Pete and Sterling in 1954. When Sterling died in 1963, Luke Comeau and his sister, Gloria, were living with them. After Sterling’s death and while working at Brickett’s Diner in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, she met Archie Blackadar. They married in 1973. In 1975, Pete and Archie added Gary, Linda, and Shane Drinkwater to their family.

Pete and Archie worked for NASCAR for many years. Pete registered the drivers and their teams at racetracks on the east coast and Canada. Pete was a member of the West Danville United Methodist Church and made many friends there. At her death, Pete lived with her niece, Paula Davis, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

Her parents, Sterling Nichols, Archie Blackadar, her sisters, Connie Burrington and Carol Robinson, and her brother, Ronald Nutting, all predeceased her, as did several nieces and nephews.

Pete is survived by Terry Ball, Luke Comeau and Gloria Comeau Gammell, Gary, Linda, and Shane Drinkwater and their families. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families.

A memorial service for Pete will be held on Friday, September 20, 2024 at 2pm at the West Danville United Methodist Church. A committal service will precede the memorial service at 12:30pm at Danville Green Cemetery. There will be no calling hours. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the West Danville United Methodist Church.