Rest in Peace, Eileen Blake

I learned today that Eileen Blake, of Eileen Blake's Pies and Otherwise, in Martha's Vineyard, passed away over the summer. I never met Mrs. Blake, but I've had her wonderful strawberry rhubarb pie, and met her husband, a retired military man, who sits in a white gazebo in front of the Blake home, where the pie's were prepared, surrounded by stacks of pies for sale. This is a big loss. Her pies are part of the short tradition Mari and I have enjoyed -- getting off the ferry in Vineyard Haven, then stopping to buy pie along the road up island, to Aquinnah. I was looking forward to making that stop on State Road this summer. Will the pies live on without Mrs. Blake? Maybe. Her husband once told me that she had a team of helpers -- had to, given the number of fresh pies she produced each day. But it just won't be the same.