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from the Memorial Service at the Marlin Club
presented by Steve
Williams |
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| I am deeply honored that the family has asked
me to be your host as we share our thoughts and memories with this
celebration of life. If I may, please allow me to give you a bit of background information on Don and his start here as a native son. Don Blackman was born February 18, 1929, to Jack and Leona Blackman, in National City, California. Don's mother, Leona, is also a native San Diegan, born in Chula Vista in 1910. Her grandparents had moved to the San Diego area from Denver, after purchasing a citrus orchard in Otay. When Don's father was very young his family moved from West Virginia to National City, so they could more easily oversee the large parcel of property the family had acquired in Lower Baja California. (Don always told about his great grandfather being the first person to drive a car from San Diego to La Paz) After he was born, Don was joined by his sister Jackie; a few years later by his sister Lillian and then sister Phyllis. The family had relocated to the Point Loma area after purchasing a lot on Quimby Street where Don's father built their house. Don attended Loma Portal School and Dana Jr. High. He was always involved with athletics, as well as hunting and fishing. His parents loaned him money to buy a bike so he could have a newspaper route in the Point Loma area. In 1940, Shirley's family moved west from Kansas City. They settled on Quimby Street right next door to the Blackman family. So, Don and Shirley first met as 10 year olds - the boy and girl next door. (Shirley thought Don was a ornery brat and Don claimed he didn't even know Shirley existed. That was to change.... Don and Shirley began dating in their freshman year at Point Loma High. Shirley was a cheerleader and probably witnessed every baseball game, football game, and even some basketball games Don played during his high school athletic career. On the day of his high school graduation, Don was drafted and signed a contract with the Dodgers organization. That summer he and high school teammate, Don Larsen, flew back to New York together to report to their respective teams. Don played 3 seasons for that organization. They were married at the Little Chapel of Roses on May 12, 1950, and their weekend honeymoon was spent in LA watching a baseball game. They lived in Ocean Beach at the time. Don and his father decided to start a sportfishing charter business and sent away for a set of plans to build a 30' boat. It was Shirley's parents who generously offered their backyard for the construction of what would be Don and Shirley's first boat. This gesture also allowed Jean and LV to spend more time with their new granddaughter, Donna. When completed, the boat was named "Shirlonna" - for Shirley and Donna. While running their charter business on weekends, Don and his dad also worked full time at a lumberyard and spent many late evenings working on the boat. After a year of the sportfishing charter business, the Shirlonna was sold. Don and Shirley bought their home in Bay Park. Son Steven was born about this time. Don worked at Kettenburg and was foreman at the Driscoll boat yard before he began his own business - at first building boats in his own backyard. They had a shop in Old Town, and then on Kettner Blvd. before moving to their present location. After the charter business, Don and Shirley were "boatless" (happily) for a number of years. Their interests turned to 10 continuous years of deer hunting and bird hunting. During this time Don became interested in raising and training Labrador Retrievers for hunting as well as for field trials - Belle (Blackies Belle) and Brant (Black Brant of Whiskey Creek) - became members of the family in the late 60's. (Thus the boat name RETRIEVER) In the mid 70's, with Steve's encouragement, they built the first FISH MACHINE - a 20 foot skiff (their boat #2) A mold was made from the skiff - their first molded skiff (their boat #3) They also eventually had the first of the 23' and 26' flybridge models that Don designed. Ten years later, they built the 49 foot RETRIEVER, sold their house and moved aboard. His "Grandbrats" as he called them were Travis, Lindsey, Tyler and Sydney. An actively involved Grandfather, was a fan at countless events of soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, wrestling, Aikido, and theater productions. Don was a Padres fan since the Pacific Coast League at Lane Field. He was a season ticket holder since the Padres 2nd season. As was previously mentioned, Don was an avid hunter and fisherman. He joined the Marlin Club on July 21, 1974, and became an active member in July 21, 1974. According to Shirley, Don may have caught his first marlin prior to joining the club. Shirley became our club president in 1983, and Don was our president in 1992. Only one other couple in the history of the Marlin Club. dating back to 1931, had a husband and wife serve as club president. Don and Shirley's involvement with the various club activities was 110% right from the start. Don chaired numerous committees over the years, was always there when the club needed his advice, and he spent countless hours at the club working on various projects to help make things better. He received the silver button in 1984 and 1991. His skills as a master boat builder and craftsman are recognized throughout the boating community, and the Marlin Club is truly grateful to have had his talent available to us. As an example, we asked Don to design and create three teak reel storage boxes to be used as the first, second and third place angler awards for the I.L.T.T. Talk about a piece of fine furniture! They were absolutely gorgeous, and to my knowledge, no other west coast tournament has ever given a similar award. Was anything in the boxes you ask? On top of the cushioned felt covered bottom were mounted three Fin-Nor reels for first, two for second, and one for third place. Don and Shirley were a team
both on and off the water, and I am sure that you will hear a few "sea
stories' from some of his fellow admirers that have gathered here today.
On behalf of the family, thank you for being here and sharing the fellowship and caring of Don Blackman. ...Steve Williams PS: At this point, Don would probably say "I'm, glad you had a chance to see me." |
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