Edward Douglas "Doug" Blankensop
Sep 13, 1950 -
Nov 9, 2023
Edward Douglas "Doug" Blankensop died in Portland, Ore. on Nov. 9, 2023. Born in Glenwood Springs, Colo. on Sept. 13, 1950 to Peter and Lorena (Beneke) Blankensop, Doug moved to Alaska in 1953 when his father posted to Annette Island with the Civil Aeronautics Authority (now FAA). With older sister, Elrita, he shared adventures in McGrath, before the family settled in Fairbanks in 1956. Doug graduated from Lathrop High School in 1968 where he joked, "[he] slept through Algebra and talked through Geometry." Doug grew up in a family of avid snow and water skiers, showing off his athletic skills at his beloved Skiland and Birch Lake family cabins in Fairbanks and alpine racing at Alyeska.
Doug was a curious, lifelong learner and lover of music, film, literature, and art. He attended the University of Alaska, earning a bachelor's degree and MFA in English Literature from UAA. Doug settled in Anchorage, where he launched a nearly 30-year career as a high school teacher at East High School/SWS. Affectionately dubbed "Mr. B" (or simply "B") by his students, Doug was passionate about instilling a love and appreciation of religion, literature, and film through his classes. He was exceptionally creative, talented, and much-loved as an educator, leaving an impression on thousands of minds. He also brought those skills to adults as an adjunct professor at UAA.
Doug cultivated impressive gardens, dodged bears while picking blueberries, and spent hours cycling the Anchorage trails, biking in the snow to work long before it was a thing. His vinyl collection was legendary, spanning nearly every genre and country from Brazil to Ireland. Jazz, ska, reggae, pop, Afrobeat, Smothers Brothers, baroque, and even hip-hop made it into the collection in later years.
Doug was also an accomplished cook and baker with a knack for Italian breads and Szechuan dishes. For birthdays, he requested fancy cheeses and "the good olives". Doug loved good tea or coffee, but only out of his own espresso cup kept at Kaladi Brothers. For a time, he even opened his own tea café, "The Plucking Monkey." Doug passed all his love of nature, music, words, food, art and the world to his children (Mia, Sophie & Piers).
Following his retirement in 2002, Doug taught further, making trips to Alaskan villages such as Huslia to work with Indigenous schools as an ESL instructor or tutor. He worked with the Well Street Art Co in Fairbanks and continued to write poetry, attend concerts, garden, and travel. A devout Zen Buddhist, Doug maintained a meditation practice and visited Japan several times. A lifelong wanderer, if he wasn't in Hawaii working a coffee plantation, he was in New Zealand charming his cousins with ridiculous stories. He wanted to take in the whole world. By the end, he'd made a good try of it.
Amidst a rich, creative, and beautiful life, Doug also battled an alcohol addiction. In his last years, this illness took him away from his family and friends, his good health, and ultimately, his life. His family both endeavors and invites friends to remember Doug as his most vibrant self: telling jokes, sprinkling pepper on his garden so moose wouldn't eat his peonies, pulling fresh focaccia from the oven, grading papers, and flipping an LP to side two. He was, after all, a man who requested the Toaster's song "Don't Let the Bastards Grind You Down" be played at his funeral. Nolite te bastardes carborundorum!
Doug was predeceased by his parents; a brother, Peter; a son, Teddy; and his dear friends, Billy Magoffin and Stephen Rae. He is survived by his sister, Elrita (Jim) Magoffin; and his children, Mia (Ben Sinclair) Blankensop, Sophie (Joe) Mintz, Piers Blankensop; grandson, Theodore Mintz; nephews, David (Alana & Wren) & Brent Magoffin; and lifelong friend, David Mollett. A private Buddhist prayer service was held.
A remembrance page to share memories, photos & condolences can be found at https://everloved.com/life-of/edward-blankensop. Donations will be collected there in Doug's memory for projects at public gardens he loved or they can be made directly to the Georgeson Botanical Garden (https://georgesonbotanicalgarden.org/donate). Acts of kindness, creativity, or sharing your passions—or a good cup of tea–with others are equally worthy tributes.
