Roland Clement Blantz

1940 - 2017

Roland Clement Blantz May 11, 1940 - October 29, 2017 Del Mar Roland was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, to Roland and Marie Eva Blantz. He attended Johns Hopkins University where he received his undergraduate degree and his MD degree. He completed an Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Colorado and spent 2 years in the US Air Force as a flight surgeon. He then completed is Nephrology Fellowship at the University of Texas, Southwestern with Drs. Floyd Rector and Donald Seldin; two of his life-long mentors. They peaked his interest in research and in the pathophysiology of the kidney. In 1972, he joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego and at the age of 40, he became a Full Professor at UCSD. He conducted his research at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in La Jolla where he perfected micropuncture techniques leading to great advancements in the treatments of nephrology and hypertension. He served as Associate Editor of American Journal of Physiology: Renal, the Journal of Clinical Investigation and up until recently, a co-editor of Current Opinions in Nephrology-Hypertension. He was an elected member of the American Society of Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians and the American Clinical and Climatological Association. He was a President of the American Society of Nephrology and the Council of American Kidney Societies and served as Chairman of the External Advisory Committee of the NIH HEMO Trial. He was an elected Council member of the International Society of Nephrology and a member of their Publications Committee. His contributions in the fields of Nephrology and Hypertension are known nationally and internationally. He received the Donald B. Seldin Distinguished Professor award from the NKF (2005), the William S. Middleton award for Research Excellence from the Veterans Administration (2006), and the John P. Peters award from the American Society of Nephrology (2010) which recognizes individuals who have made substantial research contributions to the discipline of nephrology and have sustained achievements in one or more domains of academic medicine including clinical care, education and leadership. This year, Roland received the Robert W. Berliner Award for Excellence in Renal Physiology. Roland Blantz collaborated in and published 221 research articles in leading medical journals and 37 medical book chapters pertaining to kidney pathophysiology. Roland was an avid skier, a voracious reader and loved jazz music. He sang in the La Jolla Symphony Chorus for 22 years, enjoyed entertaining and especially traveling; his most recent trip was to Ireland to discover his roots in County Cork. Roland is survived by his loving wife Christine, three sons: Adam, Eric, and Jason, two stepdaughters, Muriel and Sabrina, and11 grandchildren plus Daisymarie, their beloved Rhodesian Ridgeback. He cherished his cousin Patsy for all the support and care she provided to his mother in Portland, Oregon, and was extremely fortunate and thankful for the twenty years of care Alicia provided to him and to Christine. He truly appreciated the care received from all the healthcare professionals. A special note of thanks to Father Nicholas Dempsey, who administered the Sacrament of Healing many times. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to any of the following: The American Society of Nephrology, the National Kidney Foundation, La Jolla Symphony Chorus, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine or the UCSD School of Medicine. On November 17, 2017 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, there will be a viewing and rosary at the El Camino Cemetery located at 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd., San Diego, CA 92121. Hors d'oeurves will be served. On November 18, 2017 at 10:00 AM, Father Nicholas Dempsey will officiate the funeral mass at St. Therese of Carmel, located at 4355 Del Mar Trails Rd., San Diego, CA 92130. Following this will be his burial with Military Funeral Honors at the El Camino Cemetery, 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd., San Diego, CA 92121, immediately followed by a celebration of his life at the Blantz' residence.