Alejandro Blanco, better known to most as Alex, 81, of Jackson Heights and Kinderhook, NY, passed away on Friday, February 20th. He was the most loving and generous husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He will be greatly missed.

Alex was born in Bogotá, Colombia to Neftali Blanco and Sara Gomez on March 24, 1944. He came to the United States at the age of 19 and worked for a year at Schenley as a teletypist before being drafted into the US Army where he was ultimately based in Bangkok, Thailand as a medic. After serving for two years, he returned to New York and resumed his position at Schenley, and later obtained a position at J.P. Stevens & Co. While working full-time, Alex put himself through school at RCA Institutes, where he graduated in 1971 from The Electronics Circuits and Systems Program. In August 1969, Alex began working at Time Inc., in the Wire Room, where he moved through the communication department and ultimately landed at Sports Illustrated, from which he retired in 2008.

While working at Time, Inc., Alex dedicated many years of his time to The News Guild of New York, working and preserving the rights of his fellow colleagues, where he was his shop's Grievance Committee Chair, long-serving Chairperson of its Membership Committee, and was an Executive Committee member for over 7 years. In 2007, Alex was a recipient of the Thomas M. Keenan NewsGuild of New York Service Award for which he "performed above and beyond in service to the New York Local, and best exemplifies the ideals of a true labor leader in the spirit of Tom Keenan." After retirement, he split his time between residences in Jackson Heights and Kinderhook. Alex was a member of the local American Legion.

Alex is survived by his wife of 54 years, Gloria, his daughter Alexandra Blanco (Uriel) of Kinderhook, his son Andrew Blanco (Jennifer) of West Orange, NJ, his grandchildren Vivienne Matus, Alexander Blanco, and Ava Blanco. He is also survived by his siblings, Victor Gomez (Susan), Eduardo Blanco, Edgar Vera (Ayde), Yolanda Vera, Martha Blanco Sarmiento, Neftali Blanco, and Alexandra Blanco Rojas; nieces/nephews, Audrey Kaplowitz, Susan Trehy, Estella Blanco, Leonardo Blanco, Ivan Blanco, Daniel Vera, Laura Vera, and many cousins, great nieces/nephews. Alex is predeceased by his father Neftali Blanco, mother Sara Gomez, and niece Michelle Gomez.

The family will be planning a celebration of life in the upcoming months.