Roberta Blackmer

Scotia - Roberta “Birdie” Blackmer, 93, surrounded by her loving children, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

Birdie was born in Potsdam, NY, on April 12, 1932, daughter of the late Dr. Wilmer K. and C. Leonora Trauger. She attended Potsdam High School, received a BA in American Civilization from Brown University, and her Masters in Elementary Education from SUNY Potsdam.

On August 18, 1955, Birdie married Richard “Dick” Blackmer, who she met while working in the Schenectady theater while Dick was doing stage lighting. She taught elementary education at the Elmer Ave. School from 1954-1957, and then went full-time teaching her children how to tie their shoes, play nice, act justly, walk humbly, and celebrate life with family, friends, faith, education, and adventure.

After her children were out of the nest, Birdie went back to teaching in the Scotia-Glenville School District, where she taught ESL and was an assistant in the reading and math lab. In the community, she was a member of the First Reformed Church of Schenectady for over 60 years, where she was a senior elder, and served in the bookstore and on other committees. She volunteered at various Schenectady museums, and read to 4 & 5 year old children at Schenectady Day Care. To help support her downhill skiing family, she worked part-time through the holidays at Hickory Farms in the Mohawk Mall, at OECO, and the Albany Institute.

Throughout her lifetime, Birdie enjoyed camping in the Adirondacks with family and friends, on the islands of Lake George, and skiing at Ridge Runners, West Mountain, Gore, etc. in NY, and Jay Peak and Pico Peak in Vermont. She kept in touch with longtime friends; she loved her kind neighbors, her church and the support provided by it, entertaining friends, and “puttering in her yard and garden.”

Birdie is survived by her children, Paul (Pamela) Blackmer, John (Tamara) Blackmer, and Julia (Gerald) Brannon, and her grandchildren, Douglas, Christine, Rachel, Chloe, Roo, and Ashley. She is predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Richard H. Blackmer.

A memorial service will be held at the First Reformed Church, 8 North Church St., Schenectady, on Friday, May 1st at 11:00 am, with a reception afterwards.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Reformed Church of Schenectady, National Foundation for Cancer Research, and Adirondack Wild.