Memorial

Jeffrey Neal Blair
Virginia Beach, VA
October 25, 1961 – January 12, 2018 (Age 56)
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Jeffrey Neal Blair, 56, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 12, 2018, at
his home in Virginia Beach, VA, from extended complications of juvenile
diabetes.

He was born October 25, 1961, in Norfolk, VA, the son of William Garnet Blair
and Mary Ann (Hayes) Blair. He attended school and was a resident of
Anderson, IN, and Virginia Beach, VA.

He enjoyed playing tennis doubles with his father as a teenager. He was an avid
fisherman, loved boating, and played the guitar. Anyone who knew Jeff was
amused by his quick wit and sense of humor. He worked as a standup comedian
briefly and was always cracking jokes. Like his father and sister, Terri, he shared
the love of automobiles. He and his father showed and maintained collector cars.
They had a 1957 Pontiac that was 1st in its class in the nation. He had a talent for
car mechanics and worked with replacement car parts for several years.

Jeffrey survived many complications of juvenile diabetes with new hyperbaric
chamber treatments, a kidney transplant, and blindness with help from Leader
Dogs for the Blind. He was inspired to become a past-President of the Virginia
Beach Oceanside Lions Club District 24-D. He devoted his talents and time to
support the organization that sponsors Leader Dogs for the Blind.

His Mother, an employee of Sentara Hospital in Norfolk, VA, and also a Lion’s
Club member introduced Jeff to the Volunteer Services Coordinator at Sentara.
Jeff and his black lab became a volunteer team that delivered the mail on the first
floor where there were lots of visitors, volunteers and employees (no inpatient
clinical units). The idea was to educate people in the routine of a blind person
and his leader dog and in how they are independent and that they can function
productively and accomplish goals for themselves and others.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Joanne Dickson; son Joshua, stepsons,
Ronan and Kevin; father, William Garnet Blair and his stepmother, Sandra; a
sister, Terri Lynn and her husband Marcel Baker; a stepsister,
Dr. Katherine Herrick and step-niece, Juliet Herrick of Tucson, AZ.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ann (Hayes) Blair; grandparents,
William and Irene Blair of Anderson, IN; and Wilbur and Blanche Hayes of
Norfolk, VA.

The family wishes to thank Jim Palacio, a fellow Lion’s Club member, and
Alan Paganelli of Las Vegas for their friendships and support. Also, thank you to
all the caregivers that helped Jeff along the way.

A very special thank you is given for the support of his loving and devoted Leader
Dogs: Babe, Mia, Prince, and Badger, who gave Jeff unconditional love and
independence.

Calling hours and flowers are respectfully omitted. Please go to Lasting
Memories at http://www.lastingmemories.com/memorial/jeffrey-neal-blair to
celebrate his life with photos, stories, music and other tributes.

Memorial gifts may be made to JDRF Juvenile Diabetes at http://www.JDRF.org or The NationalKidney Foundation at http//www.kidney.org; or Leader Dogs for the Blind inRochester Hills, Michigan at http//www.leaderdog.org.

Interment at the Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson, IN, is private.