Joseph Ray Blot

Joseph R. Blot, Jr, passed on October 24, 2016 amidst blissfully celebrating marriage to his lovely wife Celeste for 50 golden years. Joe grew up in Sunset Heights, graduated from Cathedral High School and attained BA and MA degrees from the University of Texas at El Paso. Joe dedicated his career to changing young people's lives as a pre-collegiate educator at Region XIX, El Paso and Socorro school districts, and St. Patrick's, and as a key contributor to advancing state wide curricular guidance for individuals with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges (e.g., ADD, ADHD); at the university level, he mentored and taught young education counsellors at University of Texas at El Paso and was passionate about empowering Mexican immigrants with English language proficiency while serving as lecturer at El Paso Community College. Notably, Joe was an avid basketball player, highlighted by a semi-professional career that featured match-ups against Don Haskins' 1966 National Championship team; such on court experiences instilled in him the value of persistence, building confidence, and having a vision in life to become a better person for oneself and consequently for others. This attitude and resilience helped him battle Parkinson's disease (PD) the last 10 years aided by boxing, his other favorite sport, at Rock Steady Boxing for dexterity, coordination, and gross motor challenges PD patients face; please donate to this cause in the spirit of Joe at Rock Steady Boxing El Paso, 10950 Pellicano Suite B-2, El Paso, TX 79935. Joe is survived by his wife Celeste, his children Lauryne Cunningham (Robert) and Dr. Kevin J. Blot, his grandchildren Garrett and Brandon Cunningham, his siblings Carmen Ruiz, Rose Mary Blot, Anna Blot, and Richard Blot, and his ~103 year old mother-in-law Celia Hornedo Gonzalez. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 1, 2016 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at Hillcrest Funeral Home West. Memorial Mass will be Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick Cathedral.