Brian Blanchard

Brian Gregory Blanchard, of Crystal Lake, died Thursday, May 7, 2015. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he was born May 10, 1957, the fifth child of Maurice Owen Blanchard, Sr. and Marie Estelle (nee Persac) Blanchard.

Brian completed his early education at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School and Broadmoor High School, both in Baton Rouge. He then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Foreign Languages from the University of Colorado in Boulder. In addition, he completed advance courses in hospitality management. Throughout his life, he maintained a great love of travel, foreign languages, gourmet cooking, and dogs.

After college, he began his professional career with the Stouffer Foods Corporation managing fine dining establishments in their restaurant division in Denver, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. While in the nation's capital, he also managed restaurant operations for the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. He later accepted a position with United Airlines, overseeing food and beverage service for Latin America routes. At the time of his death, he was an employee of Commonwealth Edison.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Maurice Owen Blanchard, Jr. He is succeeded by two sisters, Sandra B. Fox and Linda B. Jeffers (who was also Brian's godmother) of Baton Rouge; a brother, Michael D. Blanchard of Raleigh, North Carolina; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family wishes to thank his friend Lauren Weingarten for her devotion to Brian and her support to them.

Visitation will be held from 5pm – 7pm, Tuesday, May 12 at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Avenue, Crystal Lake. A memorial service will follow at 7p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Brian's memory may be made to Helping Paws Animal Welfare Association at 2500 Harding Lane; Woodstock, IL 60098 or online at www.helpingpaws.net.

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