George K. Blodgett

Exeter - George K. Blodgett, 84, of Exeter, New Hampshire, died peacefully in his sleep on September 15, 2025 at Cornerstone at Hampton after a long illness. A celebration of life service of music and stories will take place at The Old Salt in Hampton, NH, on November 1, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. George was born in Cortland, New York, on October 1, 1940 to Anne Blodgett, an English professor, and Edward Blodgett, a newspaper editor. The youngest of four boys, his intellect and musical ability, along with his precociousness, was apparent from an early age. In his early teen years, he progressed from playing the tuba to the stand up bass and soon found work in jazz clubs, thereby beginning his lifelong career as a gigging bass and piano player. He also suffered a fall from a four-story building around this time, resulting in a year-long stay in a rehabilitation facility and the use of a steel pin in his hip–the first ever used in the rehabilitation of a child. George never forgot the children he met in this facility, many of whom were recovering from polio, and he often told stories of his time there. George studied at Cornell University before graduating from Ithaca College with a degree in TV, Radio and Media. He moved to Amsterdam, New York, soon after, where he joined the Mohawk Valley Chorus and met Cynthia Long, the woman who would be his wife of 59 years. George held a number of TV, radio and sales jobs before joining the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company as a district sales manager in 1974, with a territory that included all of upstate New York and New England. It was in this role that George developed his legendary reputation up and down the eastern seaboard as a fair salesman, musical savant, teller of tales, and all around great guy. In 1985, George was one of twelve employee investors who bought Fender from CBS, creating the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, as it is still known today. In 1991, George gave up New York as part of his sales territory and moved the family to Hampton, New Hampshire, fulfilling Cindy’s lifelong dream of living near the ocean. An inveterate tinkerer and bargain hunter, George loved cars–both classics and clunkers–as well as boats, RVs, mopeds and planes, having obtained his pilot’s license in his 30s. HIs ability to play multiple instruments by ear–as well as his love of technology–resulted in a basement full of gear, which he was always happy to lend, if only he could find what he was looking for. After retiring from Fender in 2001, George continued to find joy through playing music with friends all over the seacoast area, as well as acting as an informal musical mentor to many. He helped propel the passage of the new Winnacunnet High School auditorium by pledging to donate audio equipment and was instrumental to the creation and funding of the Summer Guitar Sessions program at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. In his later years, George was best known as the piano player at The Old Salt restaurant in Hampton during their Sunday brunch buffets, as well as a regular at the Tuesday Night Jazz Jam at the Press Room in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. George is survived by his loving wife Cynthia, his daughter Amy Blodgett Paladini of Great Falls, Virginia, daughter Sarah Blodgett and son-in-law Shawn Sears of Salem, Massachusetts, and his grandchildren Peter, Max, Anna, Arden and Vivienne–all of whom are incredibly grateful to the staff at Cornerstone at Hampton and Beacon Hospice who provided loving care to George in the final months of his life. He was preceded in death by his parents Anne and Edward, as well as brothers Hugh, Mike and Joe. A Celebration of Life with music and stories will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at The Old Salt, located at 490 Lafayette Road in Hampton, New Hampshire, at 12:00 p.m. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in George’s name to: Seacoast Jazz Society PO Box 64 Portsmouth, NH 03801 or The Alzheimer's Association 225 N Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601

George K. Blodgett

October 1, 1940 - September 15, 2025