Andrew Blank Obituary

Andrew David Blank Age 53, died on July 7, 2010. Andy had come home to San Francisco, to be with his family at the end of his life; he had recently been diagnosed with Stage IV Gastric Carcinoma. All who knew Andy and his family, knew he had had more than his fair share of struggles, with addiction, which he finally overcame, and then, during his last three months, with incurable cancer. Andy never gave up hope and relied on his many friends, his family and members of his beloved AA Community as he persevered through his ups and downs. To celebrate his life, as he would want us to do, we'd like to make note of his happiest years as a young man fishing off Cape Cod, where he owned and ran The Old Chatham Ice Cream Shoppe. He was known on a first-name-basis by the Coast Guard, due to his frequent encounters with the treacherous ocean fog, having usually left before dawn to find schools of Bluefish and Striped Bass; he was never happier than while out on the water. He is survived by his immediate San Francisco family, his parents, Allan and Chotsie Blank, his sister, Nancy Hammonds, his nieces and nephew, Jennifer, Casey and Craig Severance, and his sister Dr. Debby Blank, who lives in Tucson. In lieu of flowers, any donations should be made to the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (see below), where Andy received his care from the lovely Dr. "Katie" Kelley. Andy never lost hope and his friends scattered across the country from his years at the Phillips Exeter Academy, Middlebury College and real estate development in the Bay Area and Boston will remember him for his gentleness and his innate ability to get close to people no matter what their background or circumstances. He spoke Spanish fluently and could recall passages from books, songs and movie dialogue at will to embellish a story. He was a man whose honest, bitter-sweet soul touched countless people in many walks of life. The UCSF Foundation for the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCSF 1600 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94143, 415-476-0506

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Jul. 11, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Andrew Blank

9 Entries

Adam Dean

November 11, 2010

Andy always had the best. You will be remembered always East Of Middlebury.

Janina Schneider Bertucci

July 29, 2010

So sorry to hear about your loss. Andy will be missed. My heart goes out to his
family. We were classmates at FWP and neighbors as well on Schiller Street.

crossan seybolt

July 29, 2010

I was Andy's JC at Middelbury, as well as a "neighbor" in Chatham. He was so energetic and sure of himself back in those days, whether it was at Midd or the Squire. I remember him well. My thoughts and go out to his family.

Casey Dinges

July 29, 2010

I have terrific memories of good times with Andy at the Parker School before he left for Exeter after 8th grade (a major goal he worked toward that year). Andy was fun and full of energy (with a slightly mischevious grin). I'll never forget an endless night of youthful wildness in 1967 we spent together (with Paul D and Phil M) at the Sheraton Blackstone Hotel in downtown Chicago. My first listen of the Beatles last album-Abbey Road-was courtesy Andy. We hadn't been in touch for many years but I will miss his wonderful spirit.

Linda Loenneker

July 23, 2010

I met Andy through his sister Debby in Tucson. Although I only met him a short handful of times, each time I noticed that he was such a sweet and sensitive man. Once he came to my dinner party with a lovely bunch of lilies. He brought them not because it was the "right thing to do" he brought them because it delighted him to do so and to delight me too. He was a very sweet and thoughtful man.
Farewell, dear, sweet Andy

Melanie Ryan

July 21, 2010

Andy had the best smile the world has ever known. He was such a sweetheart, and my love and prayers go to his friends and family.

Melanie Ryan

July 21, 2010

I am almost positive that I was Andy's best looking, all-time favorite girlfriend....Well, I'll bet I was in the top ten.We had a lot of fun in Boston, San Francisco, Napa, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St Barts, Anguilla and New York. Andy had (without a doubt) the most fabulous smile the world has ever known. He was such a sweetheart, and my love and prayers go to his friends and family. XXXX

Stuart Schultz

July 12, 2010

I was first given Andy's phone number by our mutual friend Bill Fisher. It was September, 1979 and Andy and I were new to San Francisco and looking to make friends. So, I called Andy, introduced myself and said ... we should get together sometime. Andy said, "why don't you come to my place right now, I'm making pork chops for dinner." So, I did, and it seems as if we became best friends that first day we met!
Hande, I'll never forget you!
Schultzie

Peter Sandquist

July 11, 2010

Andy was the tight end on our 8th grade football team at Francis Parker. Coach Kutinsky put him there to be the lead blocker on one of the most successful sweep plays in football history. In our first game that year we annihilated a north side catholic school, whose name escapes me at the moment, by 7 touchdowns. Eric Johnson was our running back who followed Andy's lead. On one play, Andy laid out a poor unsuspecting defender so badly, we felt sorry for the kid. I think that young man found a new sport to play after that game. Well, we lost Eric this Spring and now God has taken Andy from us. Somewhere they are running that 68 sweep play in heaven together, crunching heads and taking numbers!!

Some of my fondest memories of my childhood was time spent in Lake Geneva. Andy and his Mom and Dad were a part of that. Andy would drive across the lake from his house, in his Boston Whaler, to pick me up at the Indian Hills pier and we would frolic all day in the Summer sun. We didn't know how good we had it.

I am so happy that Andy finally found some peace and serenity in his life. My heart goes out to Allen and Chotsie, and Debbie and Nancy. May your son/brother rest in peace.

Peter Sandquist (quarterback)

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