- Date Of Birth: November 18, 1932
- Date Of Death: September 7, 2015
- State: Maryland
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Richard Roy “Dick” Blanchard was born November 18, 1932 in Medford, Massachusetts, the son of George and Millicent. He lived in Reading, MA, graduated from Reading High School in 1951, and attended Boston University.
In 1952, Dick enlisted in the Air Force as a Cryptographic Operator where he rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant and saw combat service in the Korean War. In 1956, Dick left the service and attended Marquette University, Wisconsin, and also played semi-pro ice hockey in Milwaukee. In 1958, Dick returned to active military service and was stationed in Japan. During off-duty hours, Dick played ice hockey, baseball, football, and basketball for various Air Force teams and coached Little League. It was during this second enlistment that Dick’s musical talent was recognized by an Air Force Captain who encouraged him to start a male glee club, the 6922nd Radio Group Mobile Glee Club. Dick received many accolades for his service and work with the Glee Club, as well as with local church choirs including a Japanese choir in Kameari. Dick left the Air Force in 1962.
In 1965, he graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and also earned a Master’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s in Secondary Administration. Dick taught music in Prince George’s County schools from 1965 until 1978 during which time his musical groups were featured performers in Europe, Jamaica, Martinique, on national television, and in various high profile performances in the Washington D.C. area. He moved into secondary administration in 1978, where Dick remained until his retirement in 1992.
After his retirement from Prince George’s County, he became an adjunct professor at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) where he taught education courses, supervised student teachers, and directed the college choir. For 44 years Dick was a choir director leading school, church, and community choirs in the Washington D.C., Baltimore and Westminster Maryland areas at numerous events. He founded the Carroll County Senior Singers in 2003, which started with 8 people but under his leadership grew to 60 members. In 2008, he was inducted into the Maryland Hall of Fame.
He loved making music, and playing golf at Eisenhower Golf Course, at former Wakefield Valley, and Quail Valley with the MISGA, Ham-Ams, Noon Group; and enjoyed Elk membership, the Ravens, Orioles and Maryland basketball.
He is predeceased by his brother, George Blanchard, his daughter, Judy Valensky, and his nephew, Jonathan Blanchard. A larger than life personality who loved serving his community, he will be missed and fondly remembered by his wife, Deborah, his daughters, Annette Nicolay, her husband Tom, and Cheryl Kofron, her husband Chris; and by 4 grandchildren, Sage, Kyle, Marley, and George; 9 nieces and nephews, 7 grand-nieces and grand-nephews, 1 great grand-niece and 1 great grand-nephew.
