Mario Crispin Blanco, Jr.

He was the cherished son of the late Sylvia and Mario Crispin Blanco, Sr. Mario was the beloved husband of Joy Blanco, with whom he shared an unbreakable bond and a beautiful love story that spanned 41 years of marriage. From this union came their treasured daughter, Nicole, whom Mario lovingly named.

Mario was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. His family was the center of his life, and they remained by his side with unwavering love until his final moments.

Mario was the loving father of Nicole Blanco-McClary and her husband Montell; treasured grandfather of Corey McClary; uncle of Erlette Westby; close friend of Mr. Rudolph Gentle, Dr. Phillip Castillo, Ambassador Lawrence Sylvester, Simeon Joseph, Sensei John Nunez, Maurice Avila Sr. He is also survived by many other extended family members and friends.

Mario began his professional life as an elementary school teacher and proudly served in the Belize Defense Force as a Volunteer Soldier, rising to the rank of Captain.

His true passion was accounting. In 1993, he left Belize to pursue higher education in Jamaica, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting with a concentration in Economics. He later continued his studies in London at Emil Woolf College, where he obtained his ACCA qualification (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).

Mario went on to become a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), making history as the first Belizean to officially earn this prestigious credential. Throughout his career, he worked for the Government of Belize on numerous projects, holding key positions in finance and management. In 2007, he was offered a diplomatic appointment as Director of Internal Audit for the Central American Air Navigation Corporation (COCESNA). He and his wife lived in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, for 13 years while he served in this role.

After completing his mission in Honduras, Mario and his wife, Joy, relocated to Maryland to be with their daughter Nicole and Grandson Corey. Although he was officially retired, his love for accounting and auditing never faded. In 2023, he began working as an Auditor with the City of Baltimore Office of the Comptroller, where he found not only colleagues, but a second family. He looked forward to seeing them each day, and they remained devoted to him through his illness, visiting him in the hospital and in rehabilitation until the time of his passing. Mario was truly blessed to have found such a supportive and loving work family.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mario was a man of discipline, dedication, and passion. From his teenage years, he practiced Shotokan Karate and later became a karate instructor, earning a third-degree black belt. He also enjoyed watching soccer and football ,good food, watching game shows, reading, and, above all, cherishing time with his family.

Mario’s legacy of love, integrity, service, and devotion will forever live in the hearts of all who knew him.

The family will receive friends in the Lemmon Funeral Home of Dulaney Valley, Inc. 10 W. Padonia Road (at York Road) Timonium, Maryland 21093 on Thursday, January 15, 2026 from 9-11AM at which time a Celebration of Mario’s Life will take place.

Interment to follow at Oak Lawn Cemetery.

In Memoriam: Sensei Mario Crispin Blanco, Jr.

Today, January 15, 2026, we mourn the passing and lay to rest Sensei Mario Crispin Blanco, Jr., a stalwart member, co-pioneer, and guiding force of the Belize Shotokan Karate Association (BSKA). He was laid to rest in Maryland, USA, and his passing is deeply felt across the karate community and the wider national community he helped shape.

Sensei Blanco began his karate journey in Punta Gorda in the mid-1980s and quickly emerged as a committed practitioner and leader. He played a key role in the formation and early development of the BSKA, where his organisational insight, financial discipline, and steady leadership were instrumental in keeping the association vibrant, credible, and strong during its formative years.

He went on to found the Belmopan Shotokan Karate Club (BSKC), the first karate club in that municipality. Through his vision and leadership, many Belmopanese continued their training or were introduced to Shotokan karate, including well-known citizens such as Ambassador Lawrence Sylvester and Dr. Randy Marfield, Associate Professor at the University of Belize, whose participation reflected the club’s broad reach and the respect Sensei Blanco commanded across professional and civic circles. He also recruited and worked alongside dedicated karateka, including Inspectors Daniel Cacho and Earlwin Palacio, helping build a strong instructional team. Many students benefited directly from his teaching, mentorship, and example.

Sensei Blanco was widely known and deeply respected in Belmopan, not only for his technical ability but for his humility, discipline, and integrity. His own karate journey was marked by perseverance and fidelity to tradition. On January 28, 2006, he attained his black belt under the legendary Japanese instructor, Sensei Takayuki Mikami, a milestone that reflected both his technical growth and his deep commitment to Shotokan karate.

Through his quiet influence and personal networks, Sensei Blanco facilitated the use of the Belmopan Red Cross building for training, helping to keep costs affordable and access open to students from diverse backgrounds. Under his leadership, the BSKC brought international-level instruction and examination to Belize, including earlier visits from Sensei Takayuki Mikami, then 8th Dan. In the early 1990s, the club also hosted Dr. Farid Amin, 7th Dan, during a tourist visit, an encounter remembered as one of the toughest and most demanding training sessions Belizean karateka had ever experienced.

Karate creates bonds that extend far beyond kicking and punching. Beyond our shared path in Shotokan, Sensei Blanco and I have been friends since the 1970s. We taught on the same staff, led the same Scout troop, travelled together, and trained together. Whenever he returned to Belize, he never failed to visit. Through the decades, that friendship remained constant, sincere, and grounded in mutual respect.

The Belize Shotokan Karate Association mourns the loss of Sensei Crispin Blanco. We grieve not only the passing of a pioneer and leader, but the loss of a humble teacher, a bridge-builder across communities, and a man who gave generously of his time, knowledge, and spirit.

I have lost a friend.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones, students, and all who were touched by his life and legacy. His spirit lives on in the dojo, in the discipline of his students, and in the enduring bonds he helped forge.

Osu.