Robert Edward Blandine

Captain Blandine was born in Canonsburg, PA on November 6, 1929. He enlisted in the US Navy following graduation from high school in 1947. He was commissioned an Ensign and designated a Naval Aviator in April 1953. His duty stations included five patrol squadrons, the last being as Commanding Officer of Patrol Squadron 49; two assignments to ships, including the last as Navigator on the USS Forrestal; three tours at the US Navy Postgraduate School where he earned both his Baccalaureate and Masters Degrees; duty at the Bureau of Naval Weapons; and the first Professor of Naval Science/ Commanding Officer, NROTC Unit at The University of West Florida. Captain Blandine retired from the naval service in September 1975. He served at Escambia County Area Transit as a Director of Finance for over twenty-five years. He was very active in the Naval Aviation Museum. Captain Blandine resided in the Pensacola area since 1978.

Captain Blandine is survived by his son, William D. Blandine (Anna) and grandson, Patrick, of Travelers Rest, South Carolina; his granddaughter Cristina M. Cain (John) of Millbrook, Alabama; two great grandsons, Hardy and Newt; his brother, Jack Blandine, of Tucson, Arizona; his niece Peggy Dillon Scheuritzel (Wade), of Palisades, New York. He is also survived by a stepdaughter, Cynthia Salko, and step grandson, Christian Stanfield.

Captain Blandine was preceded in death by his wives, Helen Mary, who died in July 1992; and Lucy Antoinette, who died in February 2014. Captain Blandine was a Life Member of the Association of Naval Aviation, The Military Officers Association of America, the U.S. Naval Institute, and The Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.

The Blandine family would like to give special thanks to friends, Frank and Marie Turchi for their invaluable assistance and support; and Mike McKelvaine and LaTarasha Clark of Griswold Home Care.

Funeral Services will be held at Our Lady of Loreto Chapel, NAS, Pensacola, Florida, at 1 p.m. on April 29. Inurnment, with full military honors, will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery with Oaklawn Funeral Home directing.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.