THE THIN BLUE LINE

POLICE LIFEGUARD JOHN R. BLANKENSHIP

SDPD 06/19/1943 - PENDING

04/12/1926 - 02/15/1994

Brother of police lifeguard Francis Blankenship

Dr. John Blankenship, a native La Jollan whose devotion to medicine was overshadowed only by his passion for surfing and the ocean, died at home of cancer. He was 67.

A graduate of La Jolla High and San Diego State, Dr. Blankenship went on to become a top graduate of the first four-year class at UCLA Medical School in 1958. His love of medicine was inspired by his former father-in-law, Dr. Hall G. Holder, a well-known San Diego surgeon.

In the 1970s, Dr. Blankenship served on both the teaching and practicing staff at Mercy Hospital. He eventually retired from medicine in 1990, after a lengthy association with Mission Bay Hospital.

But from his youth to his final years, it was the ocean that was constant in Dr. Blankenship's life. As a teen-ager, he spent much of his youth in and around the water, working as a lifeguard on city beaches.

He was among pioneer surfers at Windansea beach. As a founding member of the Windansea Surf Club and as its first president, he participated in the construction of the Windansea shack, a local landmark.

In the 1950s, he was among the first to experiment with Styrofoam surfboards, continuing to design and construct his own boards for most of his life.

In his late 50s, Dr. Blankenship took up windsurfing, a sport he loved because it provided an alternative on days when the waves were too small to surf on a regular board.

In addition to water sports, he loved music and was a versatile musician who played four instruments. He loved jazz, Hawaiian and folk music and played often with local musicians.

Affectionately called "Sachmo" by his friends for his trumpet-playing style, Dr. Blankenship passed his affinity for music on to his children, two of whom now have professional musical careers. He is survived by Joan, his wife of 23 years; two brothers, Bill, of La Jolla, and Powell, of San Diego; a sister, Hope, of San Diego, and eight children from his previous marriage, Stephanie, of Mountain View, John, of San Jose, Laurie, of Weimar, Robin, Kim and Daniel, of La Jolla, Theresa and Timothy , of San Diego, and five grandchildren. A daughter, Constance, died in 1979.

In keeping with Dr. Blankenship's love of the ocean, there will be a Polynesian paddling ceremony in his honor at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Tourmaline beach.

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