In Memoriam
P/C James H. Blair, Jr 1922 - 2009
Past Commodore James Hardy Blair, Jr, crossed the bar on Aug 20, 2009, at 87 years old. Jim was born Jan 16, 1922, and raised in Gary, Indiana. Jim had shown a talent for drawing and design while in high school as reflected in a large folio of his work from that time now cherished by his family. His talents led him to want to be an architect.
He entered college in 1940, graduating from the University of Michigan in 1944 with a degree in Architecture. From there he entered the U.S. Army, serving during WW II until August. 1946. He obtained his Master's Degree in Architecture from Harvard University in 1948. He worked as an architect for several major architectural firms in the Seattle area and had a very distinguished career with his involvement in a number of building projects in the Seattle area. His primary focus was on schools, commercial and public buildings, retiring from architectural work in 1986.
Jim married his long time companion Helen Armstrong in 1969 and became a stepfather to Helen’s daughter Joanne Winslow and Helen’s son Dexter Armstrong. He became in short order “Grandpa” and "The Great One" to Helen's grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He joined the Seattle Power Squadron in 1957 and became a Life Member in 1985. He became Commander in 1965, completing the term of the previous Commander, whose health prevented him from continuing in office. Jim was elected Commander again in 1966. From there he moved directly to the District, becoming Treasurer in 1967. Moving through the chairs he became District 16 Commander in 1973.
P/C Blair joined Queen City in 1960 and had an impressive list of contributions to the club. In 1962 he was named Entertainment chairman and over the years served on the Publicity Committee (’65-’66), Grievance Committee (’72) and the Reception Committee (’65 &’75). In 1963 he served as Regatta Chairman starting a long association and participation in log racing and serving several different times on the Regatta Committee as a member or Chairman and also served as the club IPBA representative. All told, Jim served as Regatta Chair five times and three years was IPBA representative. The 1970 Annual, the year he was Commodore, had this to say about P/C Blair: “ Since acquiring the Little Shepard (a 38’ Shain), Jim has been a persistent predicted log racer, proudly flying the Queen City Burgee, carrying on the tradition of participation established years ago by earlier Queen City captains. His very first race was the International from Victoria to Seattle in 1962, placing 1st in Class IV. ------ This year, 1970, Queen City will sponsor the start of the International running from Seattle to Vancouver. We urge all Captains to fall in behind their Commodore to make this one of the outstanding events in our proud history.”
Gerald T. Dishneau 1949 – 2009
Captain Jerry Dishneau crossed the bar suddenly on Sep 30, 2009, at the age of 60. Jerry was born on July 24, 1949, in St Paul MN, and grew up there until his family moved to Seattle when he was 13 years old. He attended Catherine Blaine School in Magnolia where he met the love of his life, Linda. After that, both Jerry & Linda attended and graduated from Queen Anne HS.
Jerry and Linda were married in Sep of 1966 at Magnolia Lutheran Church. In 1967 he became the father of twin boys; Jerry Jr. and Jim. The family moved to Ballard where they bought their first home and in 1969 the Dishneaus’ daughter Laura was born. In 1970, the family took foster daughter, Ellie, into their fast growing family and to this day Ellie refers to Jerry as her Dad. The Dishneaus have made Snohomish their home for the last ten years.
Captain Dishneau worked at Bethlehem Steel in the early ‘60s and then in the late ‘60s he went to work at Boeing. When they turned out the lights at Boeing, Jerry went to work with a truck washing business. In 1973, big changes were happening as the family moved to Bothell and Jerry became the owner of Fleet Care in Seattle. He also was a partner in a Shell gas station in West Seattle with his brother.
Jerry’s favorite recreation was boating and he bought the family’s first boat, a ski boat that he named the Tally Wacker. Really getting into boating, Jerry then bought a 32’ Bayliner called My Way (Frank Sinatra song – one of Jerry’s favorites). He then sold the Bayliner and bought a Reinell cruising boat and joined the Reinell Yacht Club where he was a member for six years. Jerry then joined the Tyee YC and was an active member for ten years and served as Fleet Captain. Jerry then switched membership to Queen City and has also been a member of Hidden Harbor YC for many years, where he served as a Board member.
Captain Dishneau joined Queen City in 1989 and immediately became an active member with Jerry and Linda participating in social events and Jerry often volunteering for work parties and committee memberships. In 1990 Jerry became the Decorations chair (thanks to Linda he was a big success). In 2000, Jerry joined the Moorage Committee and served through 2004, when he chaired the committee, one of the tougher jobs in the club. Jerry also served on the Bar Committee starting in 2002 and was serving as Assistant Bar Manager this year and slated to become Bar Manager on October 1st, the day before he died. Jerry never hesitated to serve as bartender and as the Assistant Bar Manager he scheduled bartenders for the QCYC events. When Jerry couldn’t find a volunteer for a function he would always take the shift himself.
Jerry received the club’s highest honor in 2004 when he was named Member of the Year by Commodore Daryl Anhalt.
Jerry liked to go to Andrews Bay for overnights and weekends and he always took a fully loaded boat with family and friends to the Seafair weekends to watch the hydro races.
While members of Queen City, the Dishneaus owned two boats: the Argonaut , a 30’ Reinell express cruiser they owned for a short time and the Sunchaser, a 40’ Bayliner tri-cabin they have owned since 1995. Both Jerry & Linda have contributed much to the club with Linda serving as the club Decorating Chair and going through the Tarettes’ chairs, culminating in her Presidency in 2007.
As if Jerry and Linda weren’t busy enough, he joined the Eagles Square Wheels Camping Club in 2006 so he could be a land cruiser as well as a water cruiser.
Over the years, Jerry has shown a lot of courage and persistence as he dealt with very severe health issues. Jerry’s friendly and calm demeanor will be missed greatly at Queen City.
Jerry leaves his beloved wife Linda, Jerry Jr. and his wife Tina and three grandsons Jay, Mason and Jakob; son Jim and his wife Stephanie; and daughter Laura Molleker and her husband Stacy; foster daughter Ellie Pullman and her husband JD and three children Vicki, Jimmy and Jenna; and Jerry’s dog Keisha.
