Please use this place to share your memories of and feelings for Bill.
If you have a photo or video that you would like shared in the gallery or at the memorial service, please email Linnea Beyer: lbeyer@lightfactory.org.
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Bill Blanton 
I’ve been trying to remember the earlier times that I knew
Bill, but can’t remember details. I do remember, and appreciate, his
hosting me at his amazing home when I sailed at Solomons with Allen a few
years ago. And I won’t forget the emails he sent out as floodwaters were
approaching and then swamping his restaurant (?).
I am glad that some of the ‘Millers will be at the service. I expect it
will be quite a crowd and that you will learn some interesting things about
Bill. I feel sorry for his family. I expect he was the tie that bound them
in many ways.
Lisa
I did want to share one of many Bill Blanton memories.
4th of July 2009. I was living in London at the time, working on my
master’s degree. I had come to DC to do some research at the Library
of Congress, and the lovely Chesa put me up at her apartment for a
week. I was in DC for the 4th, and Bill and Judith invited me on
Bill’s yacht to celebrate the 4th with them. Of course I remember the
fireworks, being on the Potomac, and the fantastic boat, but what I
remember most was how Bill treated me like one of his own-even
introducing me as ‘practically one of his own girls’. And that was
what Bill was all about. Having fun and taking care of people, in a
selfless and humble way. And that’s how I’ll always remember him–on
and off the water.
Love,
Christina
I only knew Bill for a few short years and every time I saw Bill it was at a regatta. One regatta in particular 2011 Midwinter’s,
I remember well because in this race I was closest to his score so he was bound and determined to beat me. In this race we
both came off the starting line side by side with Bill to leeward of me then he managed to pull away from me just slightly,
I was feeling the lee bow effect so I decided to tack out. This gave Bill a chance to clear his air so he tacked out exactly when
I went and still managed to pull away from my boat even more. I was still feeling the bad air so I tacked back again, he went
at exactly the same time as me. This went on at least 5 times, even when we split tacks we would still end up with Bill slightly
above me after we met up again. He was so determined to beat just my boat that he kept it that for the rest of that race and
finished ahead of my boat. That was my personal race with Bill and I will always remember it. Bill also beat me by 4 points
overall in that regatta. All in good fun and I wish we could spar like that again.
Bill was always such a great pleasure to have sailing with us and I really looked forward to Bill and Chesa to come down to
Florida with each major regatta. It was obvious what a close relationship he had with his lovely daughter/crew Chesa.
Thanks for the memories Bill. You will be missed.
Colin Browning January 14, 2012
Lon and I have so very many memories of Bill both on the water and off.
We met Bill and Chesa at the 2002 Windmill Nationals in Rock Hall MD.
We enjoyed racing against Bill, as well as his gentile ways shore side
at many Windmill events.
One of my favorites was at Rock Hall (think it was the One Design
Regatta)and Pop Rivet and Prize Pig were headed to the finish, quite
close. We got into a tacking duel with you. You tacked, we tacked etc
and Bill just started laughing quite hard- “so that is how it is going
to be”. Many tacks later we squeaked out in front of you by “a snout”
(like the pigs that we are)
Meg Gimmi
Pig Headed
Windmill 5070
Lon’s favorite is also a Rock Hall memory. We were ahead of you and
you tacked off to the left. Next thing we know, you are headed back
and ahead of us by about a quarter mile! Lon was stunned, “at the
sneaky Blanton”.From then on, it was my job to know where you were at
ALL times. The bellow would come, “where’s Bill”?! Thus his moniker
“where’s Bill Blanton”?.
Lon Ethington
Prize Pig
Windmill 3886
Where to begin, so many years (over 30) so many memories. During the late 1990s, my sister (Elaine) and I both worked for Bill in the upstairs of the old Grand Rental building. There was only one stairway up, no windows, not exactly up to fire code. Anyway Bill had gotten word that the fire department inspector was on the way to inspect the building. He told us that he was going to lock the downstairs door and tell the inspector the upstairs for for storage only. Of course we were to remain silent. During the time the inspector was there, Fed Ex showed up with a package to deliver and of course the door was locked. Bill told the driver that my sister and I were having a horrible fight and they had decided to just lock us in together. Don’t you know the Fed Ex driver wanted to bet on who the winner would be!
Bill and I raced together as teenagers. When he did well, I did well; when one of us did poorly, so did the other. Regardless of the size of the fleet (8-50 boats) we often finished in consecutive positions!
Years later, Bill rejoined the action=SAME RESULT! Christina and I knew that we never beat Bill and Chesa unless we actually crossed the finish line ahead of them…”that sneaky Bill Blanton” could come from anywhere and wind up in front…in sailing and in life!
Bill always sailed well and hard…but in the end, that mattered more than the exact finish position. He was a friend to all and a gentleman of the type we would only wish was more common in life. Bill was a friend to all…and won and lost races to all of us but made us know that whenever we were fortunate enough to cross the line ahead of him it was something EARNED, not given, which made it more valuable.
My longtime friend will be missed every time we sail but he will never be forgotten by anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him and racing with/against him. My life is enriched for that experience.
Allen Chauvenet
As a friend of his youngest, Bill always treated me like a member of the family; he’d always ask me about my schooling and career options, and joke about me working for them at Evans again. I’d gone to him from time to time with business questions and he was always quick with an answer, ready to put things in perspective. He was a great man who will be sorely missed.
Great man, father and brother he will be remembered and missed!
Bill did large things and helped my family in ways only a great hearted man would do. My family joins yours in missing a great man.
Wow. He will be sorely missed. I know it’s been forever since I’ve seen him — and I SO wish I could come and be at the funeral — but I remember how much fun Chesa and I had with him sooooooo often. He let us play loud music from his juke boxes… he let us ride up front on the boats and bounced us on the waves… he was always trying to bounce us out of the tube. I remember the only way we found to stay in (he was brutal!) was to wedge ourselves in with our hips. 🙂 Anyway, he obviously had a lot of patience, cuz I’m sure hanging out with two hyper, BSB-crazed, preteen girls wasn’t always a picnic. He always seemed so laid-back and fun to me, though. I’m so glad he raised Chesa (and his other girls, I’m sure) to know what a good man looks like and that she deserves to be treated like a princess. 🙂
Bill was a great man. He believed in me and gave me an opportunity to run one of his companies. In which, helped me turn a new corner in my life. A better life.
Thanks Bill, Rest in peace!
First of all I am very sorry to hear the sad news about Bill. If any of you know me Bill and I have a very different relationship then most of you. Having said that I never lost respect for how he loved and how he cared for ALL of his children. I am so sorry for your loss. This past year I have lost so many dear friends it truly makes you stop and enjoy all the moments you can with family and friends… Love, Laugh & Enjoy Life !… Prayers are being said for the family.
Thank you to everyone posting here. It is fun to hear of how my father touched so many lives. Bill Blanton was a wonderful man and he is sorely missed here on Earth. But Heaven gained a loving angel and I know he looks down upon us with pride and love while gathered together with a big family that he has sorely missed for years. They are surely reunited in love and gathered together big-family style, as the Blanton’s/Gunn’s do so well! I love and miss you Daddy!
A special thank you to Linnea Beyer for working on this website tirelessly. I know this is a labor of love sweet Linnea…and Dad is surely proud of what you done here.
I really did not have the pleasure to meet bill personally but through my sister crimi I heard nothing but great things about him.the holiday get togethers and the family reunions at his home in maryland.it sounds like he was an acceptional person and so family orientated.iam sure he will be extremely missed. Our prayers go out to the family, may they find peace in their grief. R I P Bill!!
Bill was such a nice guy…during one of the MD nationals I was at his house and we came across two optimists in the garage. Cam was maybe 8 or 9, and Bill thought it was important that he have one…he loaned us a basically brand new opti for many years just because that’s the kind of guy he was. Cam and I will be at Nationals again this year in Maryland and will think of him as we rig and set out to sail each day…
Bill was much more than a brother-in-law to me. He was a good friend and mentor. We spent many hours playing James Bond in his Glastron ski boats or playing Steve McQueen in his Bullitt Mustang or simply moving dirt with his big Tonka Toys. He gave me some priceless memories of driving trucks and hauling heavy equipment – the story of moving the crane barge from Minneapolis to Maryland is one of many classic tales. Another is the week with a Porsche 928. Gosh, I miss him.
I did not know Bill very well as I only saw him at family gatherings at Rob and Cathy’s place in Miller’s Tavern or on the river. Cathy and Rob were very fond of him and he was good to them and to his children. Much sympathy to all of the family.
It’s been several weeks now since Bill’s passing. Unexpected, sudden, and with no time for us to prepare, i have found the following days are filled with little silly memories of Bill, wonderful shared events and dinners, and as many have shared, hours upon the water together as a larger community of sailors. A dinner after a long day, a slow moving exchange of food, wine and laughter… we never seemed in a hurry…. Though I have vowed to find a pie, and devour the whole thing in Bill’s honor, still haven’t found that perfect one yet… It’s out there, I need to be patient… I hope to cross tacks with Bill somewhere in my future…