S. Prestley Blake facts for kids

Stewart Prestley Blake (born November 26, 1914 – died February 11, 2021) was an American businessman. He helped start the famous Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, often just called "Friendly's."

Growing Up and Education

Stewart Prestley Blake was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on November 26, 1914. He had two brothers, Curtis and Hollis, and one sister, Betsy. Their dad, Herbert Blake, worked for an electric company. Their mom, Ethel Blake, loved cars, and she shared this interest with her sons.

Stewart grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts. He went to Northfield Mount Hermon School and then studied at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. However, he left college after just one year. He moved back to Springfield to start a business with his brother Curtis.

Starting Friendly's

Stewart and his brother Curtis started the Friendly's restaurant chain in the summer of 1935. This was during the Great Depression, a time when many people struggled to find jobs. The brothers worked very hard together for 43 years. They did everything from making ice cream to scooping it. Even their mother helped by creating the syrup for their coffee-flavored ice cream.

Stewart Blake was the chairman of Friendly's until 1979. He sold the company to The Hershey Company for about $164 million. Later, in 1988, Friendly's was sold again to a businessman named Donald N. Smith. The company's name was then shortened to "Friendly's." One of their most famous drinks was the "Fribble."

Stewart Blake still owned shares in Friendly's after selling it. He usually didn't get involved in how the company was run. However, when the company faced money problems in the late 1990s, he bought more shares. He became the biggest shareholder, owning 12% of the company. He disagreed with how Donald Smith was managing Friendly's. Stewart and his brother Curtis even had a disagreement about the company's future. But they became friends again before Curtis passed away in 2019.

Stewart Blake also earned several honorary degrees from different colleges. In 2011, he published his autobiography, A Friendly Life. This book shared stories about the early days of Friendly's.

Helping Others: Philanthropy

Stewart Blake was very generous. He donated money to many schools and causes. The S. Prestley Blake Law Center at Western New England University's School of Law is named after him. He gave $250,000 for it in 1979. The Blake Student Center at Northfield Mount Hermon School also carries his name.

In 2006, he gave $2 million to Springfield College. He asked that Wilbraham Hall be renamed Herbert P. Blake Hall to honor his father.

When Stewart Blake turned 100 in 2014, he did something special. He built a copy of Monticello, the famous home of Thomas Jefferson, in Somers, Connecticut. He sold this house two years later for about $2.1 million. He also donated another property in Somers to Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. The college then created the Blake Center for Freedom and Faith.

Family Life

Stewart Blake was married three times. His first marriage was to Della Deming, and they had two children, Benson and Nancy. His second marriage was to Setsu Matsukata. His third marriage was to Helen Davis, and they stayed married until he passed away. He turned 100 years old in November 2014.

Stewart Blake died on February 11, 2021, in Stuart, Florida. He was 106 years old.

See also

In Spanish: S. Prestley Blake para niños