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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Janis Joann Blair Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 7, 2015 at 2:00 AM Posted Feb. 7, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Social News After 83 years of life, Janis Joann Blair's soul took flight January 30, 2015. Pre-deceased by her husband Charles Blair, she leaves behind to cherish her memory her children, Scott (Meesha), Todd (Sherry), David, and Nancy Podgorski (Ed); her grandchildren, Jasmine Younkin (Allen) and Daniel Blair; and her great-granddaughter, Rose Younkin. Joann was born in Sullivan, Ohio September 22, 1931, and grew up in Akron. She was a gifted writer and met her husband Chuck while she was editor of the campus newspaper at The University of Akron. They were married October 7, 1955. After she graduated with her BA in Journalism from Akron U (class of '53), she put her degree to good use, working on the newspaper at Alsco Aluminum and later, BF Goodrich, where she was the feature editor of their in-house newspaper, the Goodrich Circle News. Throughout her career, Joann was a staff writer for Summit Metro magazine, The Tallmadge Express, and the Chautauquan Daily at the Chautauqua Institution in NY, (getting to interview Phil Donahue was a highlight of that experience.) Joann was also a voracious reader, a passion that she passed on to countless children during her four years as the elementary schools' librarian for the Tallmadge School District. One of her proudest accomplishments was organizing and implementing the first Friends of the Akron/Summit County Public Library's used book sale in 1972, an annual event that still takes place and has now reached institutional status. Her last 24 years were spent in Ashland, Ore. where she enjoyed the lively theatre scene and took--and occasionally taught--classes with Southern Oregon Learning in Retirement. She also enjoyed road trips to explore the Oregon Coast, Crater Lake, and Olympic Peninsula, remarking on many occasions how lucky she was to live "out West." During the summers of 1995-1999 Joann played a big role in her son David's cross-country bicycle tours, cooking hearty meals on a camp stove, driving the SAG wagon, and always encouraging and supporting the cyclists. Over the years she often reflected on how much she enjoyed those summers. Despite her numerous pursuits, she was always first and foremost Mom, writing multiple letters each week to her far-flung children, and including newspaper clippings that she knew would be of special interest, keeping a Christmas letter tradition going for 49 years, creating scores of photo albums, scrapbooks, and photo montages of her loved ones' exploits. In the truest sense, her love was the matrix that bound her family together, and heaven's gain is our profound loss. Joann's cremains will be interred at Southview Cemetery, Sullivan, Ohio, where she will rest alongside her husband and parents. She will be remembered in a private ceremony later this spring. The family suggests memorial tributes be made to your local animal shelter (she gave regularly to the Southern Oregon Humane Society) or your local library. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 7, 2015 at 2:00 AM You may leave your condolences or share memories by signing the Guest Book here » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501