Odilo Blanco

1933 - 2018

Odilo Blanco passed away March 19, 2018, at home surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren after a battle with chronic leukemia. He was born to Evaristo and Agripina Melon Blanco on October 12, 1933, in Espartedo, Orense, Galicia, Spain. Odilo's father traveled to the U.S. for work shortly before Odilo's birth. Odilo and his mother were separated from his father by the Spanish Civil War and World War II, and Odilo spent his early years as a subsistence farmer in rural Spain. He and his mother immigrated to Savannah in 1949 at which time he met his father and began his education at the Cathedral Day School. He graduated from Benedictine Military School where he received the Outstanding Freshman Award as part of the Class of 1956 and the Father Rafael Arthur Award as part of the Class of 1955. He was the 1989 recipient of the Colonel Stephen Koszewki alumni award for loyalty, service and devotion to the school. He graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina in 1959 and received an M.A. in Economics from Mexico City College (University of the Americas) in 1962. He proudly became a U.S. citizen in 1957. Odilo was a member of St. James Catholic Church until moving to Tybee Island where he joined St. Michael's Catholic Church. He had a 34-year long career with Savannah Foods and Industries, retiring as Corporate Vice President of Administration in 1997. He served his community in many ways including: Sertoma Club President, March of Dimes, The Savannah Economic Development Authority, The Chatham Nursing Home Authority, Savannah Hospital Authority, The Metropolitan Planning Commission, Savannah Quarterback Club and Goodwill Industries. He also served on the boards of St. James Catholic School, Benedictine Military School and St. Vincent's Academy. He was a member of the Diocese of Savannah investment committee, the St. Michael's Church endowment committee and a Trustee and Chair of the Chatham Foundation. "Dio" was a proud and actively involved grandfather having traveled to all ten of his grandchildren's births and remaining a huge lasting presence in all of their lives. He was an avid golfer counting a hole-in-one and shooting his age at 73 and 81 among his accomplishments. He is survived by his wife of nearly 52 years, Anne Sheehan Blanco; daughter Maria, her husband Lawrence Katz, their children Joseph, Lawson and Timothy of Birmingham, AL; son Joseph, his wife Lisa Read Blanco, their children David, Jeb and Read Elizabeth of Atlanta, GA; daughter Angela, her husband Jeffrey Mandel, their children Carmen and Anne of Savannah; son Timothy, his wife Alisa Henning Blanco and their children Finn and Everett of Savannah. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Sr. Lourdes Sheehan, RSM of Savannah, Elizabeth Sheehan of Savannah and her children, Elizabeth Hamrick, Thomas Sheehan, Jr., and Lollie Niemeyer and their spouses and children; his first cousins Joseph Blanco, Raymond Blanco and Gov. Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana and their children; and his numerous cousins throughout Spain including first cousins Aquilina, Josefa, Vina, Jose Antonio, Dora, Angel, Carmen, Lucho, Paco, Manolo, Angelines, Jaime, Jose Luis their spouses and children. He was preceded in death by his parents, his infant daughter Theresa Anne Blanco and his foster brother Patrick Harper. The visitation will be from 4-7 PM Friday, March 23rd at Fox & Weeks funeral home on Hodgson Memorial Drive with a vigil service beginning at 6:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 AM on Saturday, March 24th at The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. A private burial will be at the Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Raymond S. Blanco, Jr., James C. Hamrick, Sr., James C. Hamrick, Jr., Timothy P. Mahoney, David E. Miller, Gregory P. Miller, Christopher J. Miller, Kurt A. Niemeyer, Brendan T. Sheehan, Eamon S. Sheehan, Kevin L. Sheehan, Leo K. Sheehan, Timothy Sheehan, Thomas J. Sheehan, Jr., and Thomas J. Sheehan, III. The members of the Benedictine Class of 1955 will serve as honorary pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Benedictine Military School (6502 Seawright Drive Savannah, GA 31406), St. Michael's Catholic Church (802 Lovell Ave Tybee Island, GA 31328), St. Vincent's Academy (207 East Liberty Street Savannah, GA 31401) or Hospice Savannah (P.O. Box 13190 Savannah, GA 31416).