Sarvananda (Donald) Bluestone

Sarvananda (Donald) Bluestone

Sarvananda (Donald) Bluestone passed away peacefully in Seattle on August 26, 2021 after suffering a rare and severe complication of treatment for bladder cancer, which he’d been fighting for many years. His daughter, Hira held his hand as he passed, his son-in-law held hers.

Sarv, as he was known to his friends, was born in 1939 in New York, NY. He was predeceased by his mother, Anne Werner at age 10 months and his father, Nathan Bluestone at age 9. He was raised by his loving stepmother and her husband in Levittown, NY. He attended Cornell university where he studied history and then obtained his PhD from University of Wisconsin. He spent several years as a professor of American history, lastly at SUNY Old Westbury.

He took an early retirement to follow a spiritual life with Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh with along with his wife, her two children, and his daughter, Hira. He lived in India and then Oregon until the commune dissipated in 1986 at which point he and his daughter moved to Woodstock, where he made his home until 2020.

Sarv has been an integral part of the Woodstock and Hudson Valley communities. He did psychic readings for many years at the surrounding Borscht belt hotels and until very recently, weekly at Mirabai bookstore in Woodstock. For many years, he walked the area around his home on Yerry Hill road daily, taking photos and writing haiku, which he documented in his blog, https://sarvananda.blogspot.com

Each Summer for over 30 years, Sarv went to the Appel Farm arts and music camp in New Jersey as play director and head counselor. This was a great love for him and he is well remembered by generations of campers and counselors. Each year, he was able to offer a scholarship to a camper and he frequently gave this to a family from Woodstock.

He moved to Seattle in 2020 to live with his daughter Hira, his granddaughter Lucy, and his son-in-law Todd. They are shocked and heartbroken at his loss. His is also survived by his younger brother, Paul Bluestone.

Sarv was a huge personality with a generous heart and spirit. Everyone who knew him remembers his openness, acceptance, sense of humor, and enthusiasm for life. His loss is felt deeply throughout his many communities: His spiritual community, Woodstock, and his Appel farm family.

Family contact: Hira Bluestone, hira.blue@gmail.com

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