Comments on: Norm Blanchard, 1911-2009: ship builder’s passing marks the end of an era http://threesheetsnw.com/blog/2009/07/norm-blanchard-1911-2009-ship-builders-passing-marks-the-end-of-an-era/ Three Sheets Northwest Boating News Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:08:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Derek Barnard http://threesheetsnw.com/blog/2009/07/norm-blanchard-1911-2009-ship-builders-passing-marks-the-end-of-an-era/comment-page-1/#comment-329 Derek Barnard Sat, 05 Sep 2009 07:59:58 +0000 http://www.threesheetsnw.com/?p=3372#comment-329 Norm had a twinkle in his eye and a constant smile. He was generous to my children often leaving a folded bill in a handshake. He always had a story to tell of other people who had made great contributions to the Northwest, and who often bought a boat. He is gone now leaving memories for many of us but ending a personal era. For me, and maybe others, there is a regret for not taking the time to make more memories with him. Norm had a twinkle in his eye and a constant smile. He was generous to my children often leaving a folded bill in a handshake. He always had a story to tell of other people who had made great contributions to the Northwest, and who often bought a boat. He is gone now leaving memories for many of us but ending a personal era. For me, and maybe others, there is a regret for not taking the time to make more memories with him.

]]> By: Steve Wilen http://threesheetsnw.com/blog/2009/07/norm-blanchard-1911-2009-ship-builders-passing-marks-the-end-of-an-era/comment-page-1/#comment-257 Steve Wilen Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:00:55 +0000 http://www.threesheetsnw.com/?p=3372#comment-257 Norm's passing did not follow a "lengthy illness" per se; rather, it was a five-or-so-year-long age-related shutting down of necessary functions such as ambulation and communication. His widow Mary told me that he went peacefully when she called to inform me of his death. By the way, in the third photo it is a young Ed Monk leaning against the door with arms folded. Norm’s passing did not follow a “lengthy illness” per se; rather, it was a five-or-so-year-long age-related shutting down of necessary functions such as ambulation and communication. His widow Mary told me that he went peacefully when she called to inform me of his death.

By the way, in the third photo it is a young Ed Monk leaning against the door with arms folded.

]]> By: steve bunnell http://threesheetsnw.com/blog/2009/07/norm-blanchard-1911-2009-ship-builders-passing-marks-the-end-of-an-era/comment-page-1/#comment-251 steve bunnell Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:40:02 +0000 http://www.threesheetsnw.com/?p=3372#comment-251 I'm not so sure that the Blanchard yard can be called ". . .the most prolific builder of boats in the Northwest during the first half of the 20th century." That claim might better be made for the Grandy Boat Company, a Blanchard competitor on Lake Union. The pictured boat above young Norm is the Sir Tom, a very successful Ted Geary Design that dominated West Coast racing for some 30 plus years. A near sister ship was lovely restored by the Center for Wooden Boats where it can be viewed. Norm not only raced on the Sir Tom, he also sold the boat in the late 1940s for the value of the lead in it's keel! I’m not so sure that the Blanchard yard can be called “. . .the most prolific builder of boats in the Northwest during the first half of the 20th century.” That claim might better be made for the Grandy Boat Company, a Blanchard competitor on Lake Union.

The pictured boat above young Norm is the Sir Tom, a very successful Ted Geary Design that dominated West Coast racing for some 30 plus years. A near sister ship was lovely restored by the Center for Wooden Boats where it can be viewed. Norm not only raced on the Sir Tom, he also sold the boat in the late 1940s for the value of the lead in it’s keel!

]]> By: Graham http://threesheetsnw.com/blog/2009/07/norm-blanchard-1911-2009-ship-builders-passing-marks-the-end-of-an-era/comment-page-1/#comment-250 Graham Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:38:49 +0000 http://www.threesheetsnw.com/?p=3372#comment-250 my condolences to the Blanchard Family I will carry on the Tradition of West Coast Builders because of Legends like Norm & his father my condolences to the Blanchard Family
I will carry on the Tradition of West Coast Builders because of Legends like Norm & his father

]]> By: Gary Shinn http://threesheetsnw.com/blog/2009/07/norm-blanchard-1911-2009-ship-builders-passing-marks-the-end-of-an-era/comment-page-1/#comment-249 Gary Shinn Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:37:42 +0000 http://www.threesheetsnw.com/?p=3372#comment-249 It's really sad to me that Michael Jackson's death got ten days or so of national maintstream media coverage and I've yet to to see an obituary in the paper of a man who had such an incredible impact on Northwest maritime culture. It’s really sad to me that Michael Jackson’s death got ten days or so of national maintstream media coverage and I’ve yet to to see an obituary in the paper of a man who had such an incredible impact on Northwest maritime culture.

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