Don C. Blair

Don C. Blair "Friend to All"  To the greatest dad ever, our dad Don Charles Blair, who we loved and adored. Passed away at age 79 on Sunday, September 26, 2004 with his family and friends surrounding him.  Don was born September 21, 1925 in Murray, Utah, to George Martin and Gladys Boyce Blair. Married Donna Mae Galli Blair in the Salt Lake Temple on April 24, 1946. Survived by his three loving children, Gary, Kathy and Janet. Son, Gary and wife Kathi (Gaisford) Blair and their three children, Tiffany Ann Blair Murphy, granddaughter (husband Rick), great-granddaughters Alexis and Tori and great-grandson Kanyon. Rachelle Blair Thatcher, granddaughter (husband Eric), great-granddaughter Autumn. C.J. Blair, grandson. Daughter, Kathy Mae Blair Postma and husband Steve Postma and their five children, Tami Postma Lucero (husband Jerald) great-grandsons Nick and Andrew, Blair Steven Postma, grandson, (wife Heidi), great-grandsons Kayden, Colten and Conner, Trish Postma Lay, granddaughter, (husband Tyler), great-grand-daughters Addison and Emma, Lisa Postma Evans, granddaughter, (husband Brian), great-granddaughters Emery and Stella Ann, Mandy Postma, granddaughter. Daughter, Janet Blair Kaye and husband Bruce of Sacramento, CA and their two children, Jennifer Kaye, granddaughter and John Barcroft Kaye, grandson. Through the years dad was active in many local church and civic organizations. President of the Murray Chamber of Commerce and President of the Murray Boys Club. He served in the Bishopric for several years as first counselor. President of IPPA and also served on the board of directors. They lived in the Murray 3rd ward for over 50 years on Mountain View Dr. His greatest love was his beautiful wife Donna and his three children, Gary, Kathy and Janet and his wonderful grandchildren. And Dad loved the camera and he loved to be taking photographs. He had just celebrated his 79th birthday on September 21, 2004. Don Blair, better known as Big Daddy, is an icon of the Salt Lake photography community, a veteran portrait artist who started his career taking high school pictures in the early 1940's.  "I worked as an errand boy for Peck Camera Shop in 1936 when I was in the seventh grade." "I swept the floor and emptied trashcans." But by the early '40s, he'd moved up in the company, taking high school portraits. In '43, Blair entered the military serving in the South Pacific where he carried the spec number of a photographer. "I wanted to take pictures, but the closest I got, photographically speaking, was stacking shelves with photo supplies at the Signal Corps." After returning to Utah, he went back to the studio and met his wife Donna. After the marriage, they lived in a small apartment in the back of the studio, working together in a Peck's studio. Shortly thereafter, Peck wanted out of the photography business so Blair purchased the studio. Blair set out to be the best photographer in town. By the '50s, Blair was the first professional photographer in the valley to his own color lab and do color finishing. About this time Eastman Kodak, noticed the spry Utahn and his technique in using extremely wide-angle lens, backgrounds and unconventional lighting. He is known as a legend in the industry. Don Blair was a charter member and past President of the Intermountain Professional Photographers Association. National award recipient. Don recipient. Don received the Master of Photography degree in 1966 and Craftsman degree in 1968. He is a member of Camera Craftsman of America, membership by invitation only, which consists of 40 members in the world. Received the fellowship of American Society of Professional Photographers in 1987, the Gerhard Bakker award from Professional Photographers of America in 1995 and also received the honorary fellowship from American Society of Photography in 2000. Also was a member of the British Institute Inc. of Photographers. Don has presented programs at national conventions many years. He has lectured in over 200 regional and state conventions, also Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, Japan, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He was one of the three Americans to lecture at the 1st International Photographic Convention held in England. Don has taught the advanced color portrait course at the Winona for 30 consecutive years. Don has presented seminars at the University of New Hampshire in New England, the University of Texas, the University of Miami, East Coast School, Texas School, Triangle, Southwestern, West Coast School and the Rochester Institute in New York. Don Blair has photographs on display in the Photography Hall of Fame. Dad is preceded in death by his wife, Donna Mae Blair, his mother Gladys Boyce Blair and father George Martin Blair. Don is survived by his sister Wanda Lee Thornberg, (husband Dean Thornberg). Viewing, Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 4760 South State Street, Sunday, October 3, 2004, 5-7pm. Funeral services at Murray 3rd Ward, 4600 So. Brown St. (160 East), Monday, Oct. 4, 2004, 12 noon. Viewing one hour prior to services at the church. Interment, Murray City Cemetery.