Ronald Arthur Blancq was born in New Orleans, La., on Dec 24, 1950, the eldest son of Chester and Sylvia Sizeler Blancq. He passed away on Aug. 23, 2013.
Ron demonstrated great talent for arts and crafts from very early on. He was amazingly facile in creating quite elaborate household and seasonal decorations from simple and inexpensive materials lying about the house. He always had a great love of plants and horticulture. Friends and family have always marveled at the magical abilities of his green thumb.
Ron’s early years of employment were with Avondale Shipyards, working in the burgeoning field of computer-aided design. He later departed that line of work to go into business in the New Orleans area with two of his partners. In the late ’80s and early ’90s he worked as an IT contractor for the U.S. Corps of Engineers and then the U.S. Navy.
Ron departed New Orleans in 1997 to follow a love interest to Dallas, and he later settled in Oak Cliff.
Here Ron found great camaraderie and favor in the many Dallas garden clubs and garden societies and his horticultural talents and artistic passions blossomed into full maturity. He has been a prominent member of numerous Dallas garden clubs and societies and he accrued quite an impressive resume over the past 13 years. His many credits include:
• Master Gardner status, Dallas County
• Master Flower Show Judge
• Officer, multiple times, and committee chair, Dallas Council of Garden Clubs
• 2nd VP for membership in the Rainbow Garden Club
• Member of the Friends of Oak Cliff Park Board
• Oak Cliff Earth Day Committee member
• Past president of the Oak Cliff Garden Forum
• Member of the Dallas Flower Show Judges Founders Group
• Held several offices in the District 10 Garden Clubs
• Member of the Judges Council
• State Garden Clubs Officer
• TNT Judges Club Officer
• Officer and committee member in the Dallas Council of Garden Clubs
• Flower arranger and judge in the Designers with Flair Garden Club
Ron was recognized by his peers as a seasoned and skilled presenter of horticultural programs. He was considered an expert in rare and unusual plants and has numerous specimens growing his Oak Cliff home gardens. His many friends in the garden societies lament that he poured such energy and ability into his work with them that they don’t know what they are going to do without him. His death leaves a gaping hole in their lives.
Services were under the direction of North Dallas Funeral Home.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition August 30, 2013.
