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Gary Blankenburg Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Gary Blankenburg
Sponsored by The Baltimore Sun.
Mary P., Class of 1976
August 18, 2023
Gary was my 12th grade Honors English teacher and he introduced to a rich variety of the world's greatest literature--Shakespeare, Russian Literature and my favorite unit, "The Bible as Literature". I owe my appreciation of the rich variety of world literature to Gary's teaching. He treated his students more like college students than high school seniors. He will always be one of my two most memorable high school teachers (the other being Nick Grabner--my teacher for Chemistry and Advanced Chemistry).
RIP, Gary. I'm sure the angels are appreciating your forthright scholarly treatment of the the Song of Solomon as erotic literature. I know we students did.
Jason R Baummer
August 18, 2023
I can't remember what I shared in my first memory but I will say again Dr blankenburg was probably one of my favorite teachers. I always remember his laid-back attitude and of course the recliner in the classroom.
david eberhardt
November 13, 2021
"poetry is harder than writing- rip Gary
August 26, 2020
Dear Jo and Family,
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. Though I never had him as a teacher, I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the weekly poetry readings in his class. His magical touch resonates to this day through beautiful prose through friends, who were former students. Dr. B was such a legend.
Yen Edwards
former coworker
CHS Alumni
Mary Peitersen
August 26, 2020
One of the best teachers I ever had. At the time he was the only teacher at Catonsville High with a doctorate so the principal wanted the students to call him “Dr. Blankenburg”. He told us all to just call him “Gary”. A low key guy with a larger than life impact on his students.
August 25, 2020
Always enjoyed your views on life in the simplicity of it all.
Jan Tanner Snell
August 25, 2020
While sadly thinking of Gary’s passing, I smile when I think upon our “Childhood Kissing Cousin days! I do regret the years, miles and careers that unfortunately have a way of seperating us from our loved ones. My Aunt, Gary’s Mother was good to keep in touch, and how rightfully proud she was of her SON’ and the fine, brilliant, young man, he would become! Gary was truly a phenomenal teacher and mentor. It does our hearts good to hear how many friends and students prospered and enjoyed his many talents. Until we meet again, Dear, Dear Cousin, My Love , Jan
Cindy Swanson-Farmarco
August 25, 2020
Jo and family,
He sounds like an amazing man! I am so sorry for your loss.
Cindy Swanson-Farmarco
Sharyn Yenzer
August 25, 2020
Jo - I am so sorry! Sending love to you.
Sharyn
Joan Lattanzi
August 25, 2020
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
Kelly Burdette
August 24, 2020
Dr. B will be missed. I was a student of his for three years and he completely changed my creative writing style. I was really interested in short stories and not into poetry. I thought that poetry had to rhyme and writing rhyming poetry was difficult for me. He taught me that poetry didn't have to rhyme and with that leadership and teaching, I became pretty good at it.
Deborah Smith
August 24, 2020
I’m just hearing of the passing of Dr. Gary Blankenburg. He was my teacher at Catonsville High School from 1995-1999.
Just the other day I was going through some of his poetry handouts provided to us everyday in class as well as zines and publications from around Baltimore. I was cherishing his handwritten criticism. (I always loved his handwriting). Each line of your poem would have a series of check marks and words of encouragement or criticism. I’d always get excited when I’d get a poem back with “submit” or “revise and submit” written on it in pencil.
Always in pencil.
That one word “submit”, in his handwriting, felt like a father’s approval. Sometimes a portion would be circled with, “this is the poem.”
He treated our writing with authenticity. He provided our writing an adult context in a real literary world. Our high school publication, Ellipsis, demanded the same attention and respect of any other local publication. It read as an adult literary and artistic compilation. Not a high school handout. He made sure of that.
He shared his story with us; his mistakes, life lessons, moments of triumph, mediocrity and vulnerability. He was full of sound advice. “Do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” “Writer’s borrow, poet’s steal.” He always joked about how his mother would outlive him.
Rest easy Dr. Blankenburg. I have so much more I could say.
2 of my favorite poems written by Dr. Blankenburg are “the Naming of Things” and “Chrysanthemums in November Twilight.”
So much creativity and soul searching was supported in room 316. ❤
Roberto de Leon
August 23, 2020
To the Family of Dr. Blankenburg,
I hope you will see this. I am not sure how often I would check the obituary pages of the newspaper in the off chance someone were writing me about my husband or father who passed away. But, maybe this is cathartic to write to you anyway.
I was a fairly lost kid when I attended Catonsville High School. I didn't have much maturity to speak of, and certainly no direction. I was smart, but I wasn't prepared to use that intelligence for anything beyond witty jokes. Frankly, I hated school. It was dry and boring and seemed to lack all application to my life and the lives of the people around me.
Until I met Dr. Blankenburg. He taught me that there is a place for kids like me in school. He let me read Beat poetry. He introduced me to ideas I hadn't considered before and forms of poetry I had never seen. I remember when I chose J.P. Donleavy's "The Ginger Man" as a novel to do a report on for my English class. While my English teacher just brushed it aside, he took the time to enquire how I liked it. He had read the book. I don't know why, but the fact that this man had read the book I was trying to read meant something to me.
I'm a teacher now. And I try to read every single book the children do.
And one more thing. I wouldn't have ever done so many of the things I've done in my life if it wasn't for the fact that Dr. Blankenburg pushed me to perform my poetry in front of a crowd during the reading for our Ellipsis poetry magazine for school. I perform a lot now. Not poetry necessarily, but I suppose he saw something in me - all that wild, manic energy - and found a way to channel it.
It took my breath away when I found out he passed. Because, in my own way, I loved Dr. Blankeburg. I remember for Halloween my senior year, I dressed up like him. I still have that picture. I suppose that was my way of letting him know.
Anyway, I'm so sorry for your loss. I cannot even imagine.
-Rob de Leon
Class of 2000
Roxanne Joy Mccray
August 23, 2020
HE WAS MY TEACHER AND I LOVED HIM DEARLY ❤
Jason
August 23, 2020
Wise and funny man, probably the only class I ever looked forward to going to... the world lost a good person
Mike Partyka
August 23, 2020
Some teachers make positive impressions on you and he was for sure one of them. I’m sure he will be missed by many. RIP!
Nanette M Opperman
August 23, 2020
I was deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Dr. B this morning. Some teachers alter the course of your life and some fill space. Dr. B gave me a world to explore and a place to survive high school. Without his influence, my life would be dramatically different.
Sean Tully
August 23, 2020
Mr. Blankenburg was first my teacher at CHS and then, in later years, a friend. My condolences to his family and friends.
Sean Tully
August 23, 2020
Mr. Blankenburg was first my teacher at CHS and then in later years a friend. My condolences to his family and friends.
Deborah greffen class of 86
August 23, 2020
Doctor B as we called him at Catonsville high school . He was the most respected teacher there . I purposely took his classes every year his love for poetry shinned in the class room he made learning fun . My condolences to the family
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