Harold Edwin Blittersdorf • West Grove, PAHarold Edwin Blittersdorf passed away on June 1, 2017. Harold was born on August 20, 1922, son of Emma and Charles Blittersdorf, in Hammonton, NJ. He graduated from Avon-Grove High School, West Grove, PA in 1940. He won an art scholarship in 1941 to the Wilmington Academy of Fine Arts, Wilmington, DE. and studied under the famous illustrator, NC Wyeth and Frank Schoonover. Harold was drafted into the Infantry on Nov. 11, 1942 and served in the Army European Theatre as a Topographical Engineer in WWII. He married on Feb 10, 1944 to Lois C Hofmann in Huntington Park, CA, while he was stationed in CA before being sent to Europe. In 1946 Harold and Lois moved to Washington, DC, where Harold worked for the Washington Evening Star, and Kal, Ehrlich & Merry Advertising Agency as a commercial artist. They moved in 1948 to Pittsford, VT to live with Lois' father after the death of her mother. In 1948 Harold started Vermont Art Studio, which he owned for over 35 years. Harold settled into the Pittsford community, was a charter member of the Pittsford Fire Dept and a member of the Pittsford Congregational Church. He loved to hunt and fish, took his children skiing, loved to visit all the Vermont State Parks. Later he enjoyed water skiing with his family at Lake Dunmore.In the early 1960's, Harold was involved with developing Birdseye Mtn Ski Area and Camp Ground, and served as general manager. In 1973, Harold was commissioned by Bruce Belden of Pico Ski Area to do a water color painting of the ski area. After that he turned to Okemo Mtn, which led to a commission by John Fry of Ski Magazine to do a series of Mountain Paintings of ski areas around the country. These included Mad River, Sugarbush, Glen Ellen, Stowe, and Mt Ascutney in Vermont, along with Steamboat Springs, CO; Park City, Utah; Grey Rocks and Mount Tremblant in Canada. Other Eastern Ski areas that he painted were Sugarloaf, ME; Cannon Mtn, NH; and Hunter Mtn, NY. These mountain paintings were used in a two page spread in the "Mountain Town" series in issues of Ski Magazine. The mountain painting that Harold painted of Whiteface Mountain and the town of Lake Placid was featured in the Feb 1980 issue of Ski Magazine for the 1980 Winter Olympics. All the photos that Harold used to develop the plans for the paintings were taken by Harold while his son John was flying their small Cessna plane. Harold encouraged his children to help in his business. The whole family always rode with him when he was delivering bumper strips to Animal Land in Lake Placid, or wooden stool slats that he printed to Newton Thompson's in Forestdale. He always loved to take back roads to look for animals such as bear or deer, and his children loved these trips. As his children grew older he encouraged all their interests - growing plants, sugaring, raising animals, hunting, and more. He built a skating rink on the lawn one year. Another time a bobsled like run for the flying saucers which were popular, and a large igloo built of ice blocks. Then another year built a greenhouse, and helped build a sugar house and later the workshop in the basement was the scene of the building of a small wind turbine. Life was busy in the Blittersdorf household.Later in life Harold moved back to West Grove , PA and settled with his sister Roberta. He married Rose Marie Bloss, and became a parent to her 3 children. He started a new business HB Graphics and continued his commercial art. He enjoyed flying in a small ultralight plane, and traveling in the area where he grew up. Harold was a loving husband and father who instilled a love of life, and an optimism which have served his children well. He will be missed.Harold is survived by his 5 children; Bonnie Hawley, John Blittersdorf and his wife Marilyn, Jim Blittersdorf and his partner Katie, David Blittersdorf and his partner Deb Sachs, and Jeff Blittersdorf and his wife Melody ; 7 grandchildren - Eric Hawley and his wife Roz; Krista Alderdice and her husband Guy, Alyssa and Evan Blittersdorf, Karrie Blittersdorf, Zoey Blittersdorf, and Heidi Blittersdorf; and 2 great grandchildren Justin and Jase Alderdice.Harold is survived by his wife Rose Marie, and her children Daisey, Andy, and Donald Bloss; and grandchildren Payton, Stephanie, Lily, and Jameson. Funeral services will be held at the West Grove Presbyterian Church, West Grove, PA at 11am on Saturday June 10th. Another service in Vermont will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Red Cross.Visit burlingtonfreepress.com/obituaries to Express condolences and sign the guest book.