Robert Blanchard, a mail processing clerk at the U.S. Postal Service office in Scarborough who coached youth and high school sports teams for many years, died Sunday after a three-year fight against cancer. He was 63.
He was remembered by loved ones Tuesday as a winning coach who inspired young people across the Lakes Region. No matter what the score was or whether his team was winning or losing, Mr. Blanchard inspired kids to play their best and succeed on and off the field.
“He was such a dedicated community man,” said his wife, Nancy Blanchard of Windham. “He cared so much about everyone. He was all about having kids grow up the right way.”
Mr. Blanchard began coaching a Babe Ruth team in Portland at age 19. He also coached a baseball team at Cheverus High School. He later coached softball teams at Gray-New Gloucester High School and Windham High School. He also coached the Maine Squeeze softball team, and other youth soccer and basketball teams.
“If he didn’t know the sport, he taught himself how to play,” his wife said. “He loved to see the kids feel good about themselves. He loved to see them grow in self-confidence.”
His daughter, Michelle Blomquist of Cliff Island, talked Tuesday about the years he coached her basketball, soccer and softball teams.
He would shout, “Keep going. Never give up,” she recalled.
Another former player and longtime friend, Nancy Clark, said he was a great coach and person.
“He was fun, but he also wanted to win,” Clark recalled. “He laughed a lot and made you laugh. He never gave up. He always pushed forward. … He was a man to measure all men by. He was a wonderful human being. He would do anything for anyone. … This is a big loss.”
Mr. Blanchard lived life with the same positive attitude. He and his wife were married for more than 40 years. They lived in Windham and raised two daughters.
Nancy Blanchard laughed and cried Tuesday recalling memories of their life together. The couple made trips to Florida to watch the Red Sox play during spring training. They also visited San Diego and Las Vegas.
She choked up recalling her younger daughter’s cancer scare in 2011. She said he was the rock that held the family together.
“That’s all he cared about,” his wife said. “He wanted to take care of us. He was amazing. He was a gentle giant … so compassionate and caring.”
Mr. Blanchard worked two, and sometimes three, jobs to support his family.
For the past 19 years, he worked as a clerk for the Postal Service’s mail processing division in Scarborough. He also wrote a sports column for a weekly newspaper.
“He lifted everyone’s spirits. He worked very hard,” his wife said.
Services for Mr. Blanchard will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday at Jones Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home in Portland.
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