Alec Jeffrey Blum, 20, Vero Beach
Alec Jeffrey Blum, 20, of Vero Beach, passed away Thursday, May 31, 2018. Alec was born in Melbourne, Fla., and was a lifelong resident of Vero Beach. He was the loving son of John H. and Karen J. Blum, of Vero Beach.
Alec was a 2016 graduate of Vero Beach High School where he was a member of the VBHS baseball team.
He had been working as a land surveyor at Carter Associates, Inc. in Vero Beach.
Alec’s playful spirit radiated through all parts of his life from his love of the beach and long boarding, to his own fashionable style of clothing, and his enjoyment of reggae music. Alec was a member of the Community Church of Vero Beach.
In addition to his parents, Alec is survived by his devoted sister, Brianna Leigh Blum, of Vero Beach; his paternal grandmother, Elinor P. Blum, of Fort Pierce; Uncle James R. Blum (Chris), of Fort Pierce, and children, Ashlee Register (Jeff), of Port St. Lucie, Jordan Blum (Melissa), of Vero Beach, and Lindsee Dickerson (J. K.), of Port Saint Lucie; Aunt Barbara Bass (the late Michael Bass), of Miami, and their daughters, Allison Bass and Katie Bass, of Atlanta; maternal grandparents, Janice and William Jatczak, of Port St. Lucie; Aunt Kathleen Caldwell (Michael), of Woodstock, Ill.; Uncle John Jatczak (Elizabeth), and their children, Emily, Madeline, and Abigail Jatczak, of Jensen Beach; and Aunt Kristine Van Vorst (Eric), and their children Ava, Olivia, and William Van Vorst, of Gainesville, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Herbert R. Blum; and his uncle, Jeffrey Jatczak.
Memorial contributions may be made to Children’s Miracle Network, https://childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/campaign/?id=528
The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, June 7, at the Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach.
A funeral service celebrating Alec’s life will begin at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 8, at the Community Church of Vero Beach.
Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Fort Pierce.
Joan Ann Flamm, 80, Vero Beach
Joan Ann Flamm, of Vero Beach, passed away on June 2, 2018, at the age of 80. Joan was born in Glendale, Ohio, on April 16, 1938.
Joan married William Gary Flamm on July 19, 1958 and they remained devoted to each other until his passing on Nov. 10, 2017.
She worked for General Electric in the late 1950s and much later she worked for the Center of Exceptional Children in Reston, Va. In addition to a consulting agency, her husband started Flamm Associates, where Joan worked as an Administrative Assistant.
The two of them along with their son traveled to England, France, Switzerland and many other places in the mid to late 1960s. In 1972, the family moved to Reston, Virginia.
Her son can remember bringing home fish, crayfish, and blackberries for pies and Mom would always cook them up for him. She was a wonderful mother and always had time for her son.
Joan and her husband moved to Vero Beach in the late 1990s and always loved living in Florida. She will be missed.
She leaves behind her son, Edwin Gary Flamm; daughter-in-law, Karen Lee Flamm; and sister, Janet Strube.
Her husband of 59 years, William Gary Flamm, and parents, Lillian Anna Martin and Fredrick William Martin, preceded her in death.
There will be no funeral services.
Knarik “Clara” Nalbandian, Sebastian
Knarik “Clara” Nalbandian, of Sebastian, passed away peacefully in the arms of Jesus on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Clara was born on July 12, 1926, in Iran born to Armenak and Satenick Savadian with with siblings, Sergei, Albert and Tamara.
Clara, along with her family, arrived in the mid-50s and was welcomed to the United States of America by officials at Ellis Island. She settled in and began her life as a talented seamstress in New York City, sharing her infectious smile and heart of gold with everyone she met.
Soon she was married and eventually gave birth to the three loves of her life, her sons Robert, Richard and Ronald.
She moved to Florida in 1988 and spent her golden years in Sebastian cheering on her grandchildren in all their activities. She was their biggest fan!
Clara’s spirit lives on in her surviving family members including her brother, Albert; sons Robert, Richard and Ronald; and grandchildren Danny, Robert Jr, Bailey and Avery.
Services will be held at Strunk Funeral Home in Sebastian on Thursday, June 7, from 5-7 p.m.
Arrangements are by Strunk Funeral Home and Crematory, Sebastian.
Dennis Alan Schaefer, 72, Vero Beach
Dennis Alan Schaefer, 72, passed away doing what he loved, riding his bicycle, near his home in Vero Beach, on Saturday, June 2, 2018. He was born Aug. 3, 1945, in New York City, to Walter and Anne (née Green) Schaefer.
He grew up in New York City, at 884 West End Avenue, attending PS 166, William O’Shea Middle School and Stuyvescent High School; and then McGill for college and Carnegie Mellon Business School.
He lived in Princeton, Milwaukee, Montreal, Toronto and Boston before semi-retiring to Vero Beach four years ago.
Selfless, kind, compassionate and stoic. A man who worked hard till his dying breath, he loved and lived for his family. In the weeks before he died, he saw all three of his daughters and all five of his grandchildren at both Passover in Montreal and his granddaughter Isa’s Bat Mitzvah in Bethesda.
He is survived by his wife, the love of his life, Lynda; his daughters Dara, Alisa, and Amanda; grandchildren Jonah, Ariella, Isa, Ella, and Luca; his brother, Bob; and nephews and many cousins.
Family and friends who knew Dennis and felt he touched their lives are invited to the Strunk Funeral Home, 916 17th St, Vero Beach, at 11a.m. on Thursday, June 7, to celebrate Dennis’ life.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Dennis’ name to Bike Walk Indian River County for their Recycle-A-Bicycle program supporting children in need and adults who need bicycles as transportation for commuting to work.
