🙏🏽Our Love and Prayers are lifted up to the Families as Robert Rejoices In Paradise! Blessings to All...

My heartfelt condolences to all of the Blas family on the passing of your beloved Robert. It is truly a blessing to see how he has shaped the lives of young people and has given so much back to the community.  His spirit and dedication will be with us for a new generation.  Rest in peace my brother.

After reading many of the memories honoring Robert, I found it comforting to know that he is referred to as Coach, Teacher and Mentor.  All describing a person who lives their life for the purpose of Service.  Robert followed the instructions of our Lord and Savior and placed other’s needs before his own.  And on his last breath, he maintained his faith and trust in the Lord.  That is the true testament of Love.

Robert may not be here with us physically, but as a good Coach, Teacher and Mentor does,  he left an impression in our hearts and footprints on a path for us to follow; to live our life for the purpose of Service.

Thank You and Love You Robert.

Blas you have impacted many many lives! I’m so glad to have met you years ago! You have been an inspiration to many people of all ages! You’re an amazing friend and we are truly going to miss you! You were taken by the Lord way too soon! May the Perpetual Light shine upon you! May your soul rest in paradise! Until we meet again Chelu! 

Gone too soon, my Friend 
Thank you for always keeping in touch. 
I have re-read our text message threads a zillion times.
I still crack up.............!!
I can hear  your laugh and  see your smile :-) 
Until we meet, again. 
XoX
~darbi~

I was lucky enough to call Coach Blas my coach and friend.  He was a caring and exceptional coach, taking the time to wrap my feet and ankles before every soccer practice and game to keep shin splints at bay.  He made the soccer team feel like a family, and fostered a sense of camaraderie.  Coach Blas holds a special place in my Crusader heart.
Adriana, Marian Catholic High School class of 2003.

very sorry to hear this.   he was a fun guy.  I enjoyed working with  him.  he took my teasing about his Dodgers with total class.   he will be missed.

You had rad taste in music. I remember you would leave the computer lab open during lunch for us to come in and hang out. The Smiths or Daft Punk playing. You were the best chaperone at grad night and bought us pancakes at ihop the next morning. You were always happy and such a positive force. You will be missed. Class of 05 will remember you. My condolences to the Blas family. 

Coach Blas you were more than just my first football coach. While you taught me how to run the 26 sweep and got mad at me every time I missed the hole or messed up my assignment, you still encouraged and believed in me. I was blessed that our relationship didn’t end after football, our friendship blossomed when we became colleagues. From hanging out in room 806 or, during my second stint at teaching, hanging out with you in the 200 building. Coming back to Eastlake after a 9 year hiatus was nerve racking at first, but you were the first familiar face I saw and you instantly made at the jitters go away. You made me feel welcomed and introduced me to everyone as “one of my old players”.  You made me feel at home and I’ll never forget that. Even after I left to start my career at a new school you would check on me just to see how I was doing. That’s type of person you were and that will resonate with me forever. Rest Easy Coach, you’ll forever be missed. 

I can say with complete honesty that Robert Blas was the only teacher in my entire high school career that not only took legitimate interest in my future, but took action. 
If you were to look at a list of qualities that define me, procrastinator would be at the top! I  was an incredibly average student in my High School years. My GPA was always just high enough to play sports and to stay off academic probation. Come my senior year, I had zero community service hours...community college was the plan, but I had no clue how to start. In my desperate attempt to catch up with everything, Blas lent a helping hand.  He gave me every opportunity possible to make up my community service hours before graduation. He also gathered all the paperwork I needed to apply to Southwestern College and practically filled them out for me. 
Of course, once I successfully graduated, he continued to be a great friend and mentor. Whether it be getting my friends and I floor tickets to concerts at the venue he worked at to getting me a summer job,  he was always there to help, listen, encourage, and inspire.
 I am so grateful for the impact that he has had on my life.

....(cont) it seemed like the young Chamorran Billy Ray Cyrus and I  were in EVERY pep assembly skit or talent show that the kids thought up. So it was one of these times that a kid was trying to get my attention, one of Blas’s special needs kids,  yelling “mr purple bike, mr purple bike!”  I didn’t know he was calling me but robert told me later he didn’t know my name, he didn’t know if I was a janitor , coach or custodian, he just knew me as “mr purple bike” because that’s how I got around campus in those days. And this sticks with me. Because what are we when this is all said and done, being Teachers, coaches, aides, assistants  and computer lab coordinators? What does any of that mean except for the memories we’ve left with students?  I think that’s why Robert will love on so long after this at Eastlake. He left all of us with so so many memories. Robert Blas will live on forever here at Eastlake.  A legend, a friend and one of our most memorable faculty members. Godspeed you Robert Blas to the Hall of Immortal Titans. 💙💚💙💚💙💚

When he was feeling salty Robert would call me “mr purple bike.”  It was an inside joke. Everybody knows Blas the coach, Blas the Morrissey fanatic, Blas the international traveler, but not to be forgotten Blas the pied piper of special needs students. Rarely a day went by that I didn’t see robert surrounded by 3 or 4 special needs students eating out of a shared bag of chips in the back of my class or helping him with athletic clearance forms in the back of the ASB. He had a soothing way with these students, from Down’s syndrome, autism and aspergers he would make sure these kids had a mainstreamed experience in many classes here on campus, including my photo class which he took at least 10 times with his posse. I can still hear Robert Repass’ s deep voice calling out “Look Mr Blass I won!” last year  at the BMOC assembly.  That boy would have been invisible at any butcher school without a Blas to make sure he was included in campus culture. He was a trusted friend for so many kids like Robert as well as athletes and kids who wanted to see Europe over spring and summer breaks. A tireless advocate for women’s athletics as well. I am sharing a photo I saw earlier this week of España Garcia from 1997.  She was one of these once in a career kids who was stuck between being a glamour girl, nominated for homecoming queen, and torn between her live of football. She tried out for football the 2nd year we had Robert on coaching staff. Some of the players didn’t like the idea of having a girl on the team and resisted.  Blas could be heard from the sidelines, “LET HER PLAY!”  And they did.  So many examples of this guys impact and friendships have been crossing my screens on social media. Just a huge huge impact and legacy of lives touched on our campus. So why the “mr purple bike?”  I think it was his was of reminding me to be humble and remember what matters most in life.  We both started the same year in 1994 and because we were the youngest staff it seems like we (cont..)

Robert you will be truly missed. I can't imagine walking through life without you in it. You always had an open and warm heart; you were able to give advise on the fly. Always had a gentle and kind voice. And you were always joking around. You were a good person and had a soul of gold. I will miss you giant bear hugs. You will be missed, Robert. You touched Michael, Macaria, Madison, Mikayla's and my heart and soul. There wasn't anything this family would not do for you. Because you had done so much for us. You are gone too soon.
REST IN HEAVEN MY FRIEND

Sending out prayer for Robert's family for healing

Heartbroken Blas. Just between Bonita Vista and Eastlake athletics you connected with so many people.  You were such a giving person. Just recently when we got a new athletic director you were the first person to step up and ask him if he needed any gear, even though you didnt really know him. Thats the guy I know and the man Ill miss! RIP my friend.

Coach Blas you'll be missed. I will always be grateful to you and our friendship. You were the very first staff member to connect with me when I took over the @TitanSoccer program. I can hear your 80's music (The Clash-London Calling) still echoing at Stan Canaris Stadium. I'll will truly miss your friendship! 🙏🏻❤🙏🏻

"Extending my most heartfelt sympathy to all his  many friends , and his  family."

I had the pleasure to work with Bob. . Bob was not the average contact for students of Eastlake High School. He shared warmth and love for students. He will forever be remembered by all he contacted.

"MAY HIS MEMORY BE ETERNAL"

Stan Canaris

I first met Coach in 1991 playing 8th grade ball. Things weren’t so great in my house so I spent a lot of time with him and Coach Todd. They kept me focused on the positive, always playing ball, lifting weights and really just provided me with a healthy environment. I think I spoke to B on just about every major decision until I left for the USMC. Coach B was heartbroken that I made that decision but was extremely supportive. This was a good man and he was a phenomenal influence on me and he was many others. Like most, I lost contact over the years, yet this was very difficult to digest. I can’t think of a single teenage event I didn’t speak with him on. No matter the time that went by every time I saw him he greeted me with a big hug and an “I love you, man!”  My heart hurts right now, but it’s also full because he didn’t wast a single moment. He made a positive influence on every kid he met and knew. Rest In Peace, coach. I love you and look forward to hoops with you in Heaven. 
God bless you. 
To the Blas family, my prayers are with you. Thank you for always welcoming me into your home and taking an interest in me. God bless you all. 

An amazing man loved by so many.  My heart aches of hearing this news.  Sending prayers for healing.  A true friend - so many wonderful years.  One of GOD'S BLESSINGS.

Success is measured not by wealth, but by the number of hearts touched. You definitely accomplished that and much more. You will always be in our hearts, my brother.
RIP Robert.

Had a chance to see him grow as a student at Montgomery High. Always gentle and willing to help at any time, he distinguished himself above any other person. Most definitely, he will be missed teaching young athletes become successful; me, I will miss him at baseball games at ELH vs his Alma Mater
May he Rest In Peace 

It was indeed an honor to work with Robert.  He was always willing and able to help.  He was a gentle giant who always wore a smile.

Coach Blas was very important in my development as a lacrosse Coach at Castle Park High. Coach truly was there to support me in all ideas i had for my program and to continue to gain the respect of South Bay Lacrosse. Blas was more than just a colleague in athletics and the district service he was a friend and i considered him apart of my family. I remember every moment of him during our breaks go and sing karokee in the evenings. I will miss him and his cheer full happiness he always brought to the table on a daily base. Coach Blas was and will always be an Honorary member of the Castle Park Girls Lacrosse family.  

Blas, will miss our little talks we use to have. Will always appreciate how you asked about my kids that you that you’ve known since 1992.  RIP my friend.

Coach Blas wasn’t my sports coach. In fact, I never played sports. However, he was more than that. He was a Life Coach for us teenagers who needed an adult to give us a little understanding. He accepted everyone with open arms and welcomed us into his space to spend time, get some relief from the emotions and stresses of school and teenage life. Being in his presence was to laugh, smile and feel at ease. He never seemed annoyed by us and our immaturity. Bless his heart, because I’m sure we were a handful. That was 20 years ago for me, as I’m c/o 2000, and the older I get the more I realize how important people like him are during those fragile and sometimes lonely years. He made high school more pleasant, fun, and safe. In those days, we didn’t have access to the internet on smart phones or credit cards. Coach Blas offered to buy me, and my best friend Yvonne, tickets to the Up in Smoke Tour (which til this day is one of the most epic concerts I’ve been to because the line up was amazing). He had our backs. He stood for community, support, and uplifting the kids. He’s someone I hope my own children will have in the school system. Rest Easy Blas, you have made such an impact on us all and leave a legacy behind most of us can only pray we will come close to when it’s our time. 

Hey Blas,
I was so upset when I heard the news. Because of you I gained confidence. You made it easy to try new things even when I was going through a hard time. I have my best friend because of what I learned from you. You were a huge part of my high school career and I'm sorry you can't do that for any other students like me. 

Rest easy coach!! I’m so glad you being my coach in 95-96 blossomed into an amazing friendship after all these years! I appreciate everything you did as a coach for me, and everything you do as a coach now for my daughter Madalyn! As your first mother & daughter duo, we are both proud to have played for you!! We will miss you coach 

You will never be forgotten bruddha! I will miss your smile, our jokes together. You touched a lot of people lives. You will be missed. Rest In Paradise! 

Few people know that my first coaching gig was at Marian Catholic with Coach Blas back in 2003.  Back in 2003, I was a freshly minted graduate from SDSU and I started subbing at Eastlake High.  Subs rarely have a place to eat or socialize during lunch, but Blas always invited me to eat lunch in his room. “Hey your that kid from Hinkle’s photo class right?  Weren’t you also an AVID tutor here?  Come hang out in the computer lab for lunch.” His room was always filled with tons of students, teachers, and even administrators that loved to be around his magnetic personality and joy.  We immediately formed an unbreakable bond over food, futbol, and 80’s music. He coached everything.  Not because he knew how to play everything, but because he knew how to connect with kids.  He volunteered for everything.  Not for the recognition, but because he cared. He mentored countless coaches, teachers, and students – including yours truly. 
The man with impeccable musical taste (We went to 8 Cure concerts, 4 Morrissey shows, 2 Sweet & Tender Hooligans shows, 3 Depeche Mode shows, and countless Still Ill shows together), the man that could coach anything (cheer, football, lax, field hockey, soccer, and baseball), the man that could connect with anyone, the world traveler (One of his favorite Morissey songs was International Playboy): Coach Blas!! Rest In Paradise!!!! Miss you already Brother!!

Blas I can't believe your gone.  We have lost one of the kindest and gentlest people I have ever had the privilege to know. You mean so much to so many and I will never forget you. RIP brother, you will be missed.

OBITUARY

Robert Paulino Blas

19 May, 1969 – 3 February, 2020

Glen Abbey Memorial Park & Mortuary

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