Son of Henry Patrick & Elaine Ismae (nee Fallon) Blank

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and teacher. Jim was born in Winona, MN to Henry and Elaine Blank. In 1938, after the passing of his father, he and his mother and brother, Gerald, re-located to Cleveland, OH. He graduated from Bowling Green University with a Bachelors Degree in Foreign Languages. After graduation he served in the U.S. Army with the post WWII occupation forces in Germany. Upon returning to the United States, he started his teaching career back in Ohio. He received a grant to study towards a Masters Degree in Spanish at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. This is where he met his wife, Nadine. Together they taught Spanish to Peace Corps trainees heading for Latin America. Jim was the director of the program as well as a teacher. When the program ended he and his wife settled in Walnut Creek, CA in 1966. Jim taught Spanish at Concord High School for forty years and received seven Teacher of the Year awards. After retirement he taught an advanced placement class at Monte Vista High School in Danville, CA. Jim touched many lives with his gentle spirit and positive outlook on life, not just to family and friends but his students as well. He enjoyed gardening and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Nadine, son Patrick (Michele), daughter Lara Nelson (Eric), son Theodore, grandchildren Amanda, Stephen, Ashley, Hannah, Tyler and great grandson, Cole..


In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in memory of James P. Blank to St. Michael Orthodox Church, 2425 Olivera Rd. Concord, CA 94520.Friends and family are invited to a memorial service on January 24, 2015 at Oakmont Memorial Park, 2099 Reliez Valley Rd. Lafayette, CA.