Dr. Jack Glenn Blendinger

He was a Renaissance man - a writer, teacher, scholar-athlete, surfer, and nationally recognized athlete into his mid-80’s. He was full of life and possessed a wonderful sense of humor.

He was born in Pittsburgh, PA on June 3, 1933, and was raised by a single mother Estelle Blendinger Markman in Hollywood, CA.

Jack began participating in sports during elementary school and became a star varsity football player and track athlete at Hollywood High. He competed and lettered in both sports during junior college and at California State University, San Francisco.

He met the love of his life Sharla Marie Jung working at Kennolyn Camp in the Santa Cruz Mountains the summer of 1953. They married on April 2, 1955 in Marin County, CA and enjoyed 64 years of marriage together until Sharla’s passing on January 11, 2020. They raised two daughters together: Jan, born April 16, 1956, and Lisa, born September 27, 1959.

Jack received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, San Francisco in 1956; his master’s in curriculum development from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley in 1962; and his doctorate in educational administration from the University of Northern Colorado in 1969. He was an educator for 57 years from 1962-2019. From 1962-1966 he taught in the language arts departments of the elementary, junior high and high school in the Claremont Unified School District along with coaching the swimming and water polo teams at the high school. After completing his doctorate, he was the assistant director of the summer session and teacher at the University of California, San Diego from 1969-1972. Next, he taught a fourth/fifth grade combination in addition to serving as assistant principal at Glen View School in Escondido, CA, before being appointed director of the Community School in Escondido Union (elementary) School District. In 1976 he moved to Rogue River, Oregon as their superintendent of schools. In 1980, he returned to his beloved state of Colorado as superintendent of schools for Platte Canyon School District in Bailey, Colorado, and served in that role until 1990, followed by one year as school district superintendent in Denver, CO. By 1991 he was ready to return to the classroom and accepted a tenured faculty position in the College of Education at Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS. He outlasted all his colleagues there continuing to teach, publish, and take on leadership roles until he retired in May, 2019 right before his 86th birthday. He remained a kid at heart throughout his life which made him an excellent professor. He truly cared for his students and loved teaching.

The Blendinger Family was known for their summer swimming instructional program they provided to thousands of children over 57 years in Claremont (LA) and La Jolla, CA, Evergreen, CO (where Sharla ran a Montessori school), and Starkville, MS. Many of their protégé went on to be successful competitive swimmers, at the state, national, and Olympic levels.

Jack returned to participating in competitive sports at the master’s and senior levels in his 60’s first in track and field, then taking up smooth water kayaking after being approached by the Lake Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club outside of Atlanta in his early 70’s. He practiced on the lake outside the home he and Sharla had built in Starkville which also included a pool in the front yard where they taught swimming lessons every summer. He not only did well, but thrived in this new sport earning many gold, silver, and bronze medals at the state and national levels competing and winning US national metals until the age of 85 racing against 45yo’s and up. “Dr. B.” became a legend for all of his accomplishments. The Lanier Canoe and Kayak Club created the Jack Blendinger Masters Award that is given out each year in his honor.

He was a loving and caring father to Jan and Lisa, spending many hours at their swim meets, guiding their educational pursuits and hobbies, and being the fun dad: telling entertaining stories at sleepovers, and setting up treasure hunts for birthday parties. He and Sharla loved to take the girls hiking in the Rockies, and hang out at the beach in La Jolla. Jack was an excellent surfer, and had a “Surfer Dude” license plate.

He was also a wonderful grandfather to Ryan and Jennifer. He entertained them at Camp Grandpa every summer and was in attendance at all the major milestones of their lives.

In 2020, he published his final book “The Letterman” which gave the reader a view into the lives of young boys growing up in the 1940’s and 50’s wanting to be varsity football players at Hollywood High. The story was mainly about his childhood friend Jim Nicholson (names changed in the book) whose aspirations were halted after contracting polio.

He spent his final years near his daughter Jan and son-in-law George Keane in La Jolla, CA enjoying time with them playing games like Scrabble, and chess along with reading mystery books his favorite genre.

Jack was predeceased by his wife Sharla (2020), and daughter Lisa (1986), and is survived by his daughter Jan, son-in-law George Keane, grandchildren Jennifer Keane, Ryan Keane (Mary), six great grandchildren: Anthony, Katie Rose, Daniel, Martha Claire, Christopher, and Isaac, sister-in-law’s/brother-in-law’s: Gayla and Santi Visalli, Sandy and Dean Jung, and six nieces and nephews: Ivon, Anthony, Thea, Risa, Lucas, and Marta.

Services will be private.