MICHAEL BLANAR

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MICHAEL BLANAR
April 26, 1933 - April 23, 2019

It is with great sadness that we announce that Michael Blanar, previously Professor of English, Dean of Arts at Brandon University, and Senior University Officer for Inter-Universities North, died on Tuesday at Victoria General Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was to celebrate his 86th birthday on Friday.
Michael Blanar was born in Montreal, Quebec on April 26, 1933, the middle child of John Blanar, Sr. and Mary Blanar (née Hornak). Predeceased by his second wife, Shirley A. Lyon; surviving family members are his sons, Michael A. Blanar (Julie Vogel), Christopher J. Blanar (Lara Dziurdzy) and Martin A. Blanar; his first wife Trudy; his sister Mary Bardo (Stanley); his stepson Frazer Lyon (Kelly Easton); his stepdaughter Karen Kozyra (Keith); and his stepgrandchildren, Devon, Dylan, Kai, Luke and Tim.
He received his B.A. from Loyola College, Montreal in 1954 and his B. Paed. from St. Joseph's a year later. He went on to study English literature at the University of Montreal, earning an M.A. (cum laude), and his Ph.D. in English literature in 1960, and studied as a post-doctoral student at the University of London with Professor James R. Sutherland. He was described as "the jocular doctor" in a campus profile published by Loyola College (Montreal) in Summer of 1963, where he was an assistant professor in the English Department. He served as Acting Dean of Arts at Loyola University in Montreal during the October Crisis, after which he moved himself and his family to Halifax, Nova Scotia where he returned to teaching at the college level at Mount Saint Vincent University. Two years later he joined Brandon University as Dean of Arts and Professor of English. Additionally, he served as Senior University Officer for Inter-Universities North - a collaborative effort of the University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg and Brandon University - to provide university education to students in northern Manitoba. His leadership, together with the efforts of many other dedicated educators and legislators, significantly impacted the development of higher education in northern Manitoba.
He and Shirley enjoyed spending time at the cabin on the shore of Setting Lake, near Thompson, fishing, boating and skinny-dipping in the frigid waters. In the early 1980s they moved to Elgin, where together they enjoyed 20 years of the beauty of the southwestern Manitoba Prairies, the brilliance of Shirley's gardens, the constant march of the seasons and the occasional snowy owl that happened to find a perch outside their window. Michael especially enjoyed interactions with their Elgin neighbours, serving coffee at the annual bonspiel (if the weather was cold enough for ice), being made "commander" of the Elgin sewer snake (when the weather was too cold), and a leading voice in the establishment of the Elgin historical society and museum. In the early 2000s, Michael and Shirley moved to a lovely little house on Strathcona Street in Winnipeg where they could hear the cheers of the crowds attending the Blue Bombers games in the Fall, and where they could relax in the back garden under an arbor with the sound of trickling water and ripe grapes within hands' reach. The past few years, Michael has resided at The Boulton River Heights Retirement Community, where he enjoyed the camaraderie of other residents, gloating over his weekly bingo winnings, recounting his latest discoveries about John Long ("Voyages and Travels of an Indian Interpreter and Trader"), the Knights Templar, and esoteric hand tools, and sharing his joie de vivre and his lifelong love of learning.
The family would like to give special thanks to the physicians, nurses, aides and staff who cared for Michael over the past years.
Michael will be remembered in the "Prayers for the Faithful" at masses on Sunday, April 28 at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 255 Stafford Street, Winnipeg, MB.
An informal celebration of Michael's life will take place on Sunday, April 28 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Friends Funeral Service, 2146 Main Street, Winnipeg, MB.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, Heart Failure Clinic Program (www.stbhf.ca) or (St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, Heart Failure Clinic Program, C1026-409 Taché Ave., Winnipeg MB R2H 2A6).

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 26, 2019