Jan A. Blanck's Obituary
Jan A. Blanck of Annapolis, Maryland, died at his home in Heritage Harbor on May 6, 2012. He was 74.
Jan Blanck was born on July 20, 1937 in Stockholm Sweden to Åke Blanck and Gunvor (Hall) Blanck. He received his degree from Stockholm Technical College in Civil Engineering, becoming a recognized authority on shotcrete practices and tunnel engineering. His career as an engineer, consultant and independent contractor reflected a know how and a commitment to professionalism acquired over more than 40 years of progressive experience with shotcreting, drilling and grouting, tunneling and structural rehabilitation.
Mr. Blanck was a seasoned specialist on several heavy-construction shotcrete projects in Africa and Hong Kong before coming to North America. He served as shotcrete-specialist consultant on the first large-aggregate shotcrete project in North America, the Canadian National Railway Tunnel, Vancouver, 1967. The success of shotcrete on this project led to the acceptance and the use of shotcrete for tunnel support in the USA. He continued to pioneer and supervised the first use of structural shotcrete in the USA, at the Tehachapi Tunnels, California, 1967.
In the 1970’s, Mr. Blanck came to the Washington, D.C. area to open the Washington office of the A.A. Matthews corporation and lent his shotcrete expertise to the Rock Creek Park Metro project. He also served as the project engineer at the DuPont Circle Metro project.
In the 1980’s, Mr. Blanck established his own company, the J.A. Blanck Company. He continued working on Metro projects, but also worked on a wide range of construction projects, such as the Fire Island rehabilitation project, on Fire Island, New York, the Rock Creek Park Zoo Tunnel rehabilitation project, in Washington DC., and the Yankee Pier rehabilitation project on Governor’s Island in New York City.
In the mid 1990’s, after “retirement,” Mr. Blanck continued consulting on various projects in South Africa, Puerto Rico, and later Australia. Up until two years ago, in 2010, he worked in New York City on the East River tunnel project.
He will be remembered and remain highly respected for his outstanding leadership and contributions in shotcrete practices and tunnel engineering. He contributed at shotcrete and engineering-geology conferences in the USA, Europe and People’s Republic of China. His credits included assisting with research projects published for the U.S. Department of Transportation.
On August 17, 1957 he married Siv Margit Alexanderson of Jönköping Sweden. They had one daughter Elisabeth and one son Erik.
Jan is survived by his wife Siv Blanck; Daughter, Elisabeth Albaugh and her husband George Albaugh of Bowie, MD; Son, Erik Blanck and his wife Mary Blanck of Bremen, GA.; Grandchildren, Ingrid and Erik Albaugh of Bowie, MD and Ashton Blanck and Katie Flanagan of Bremen, GA; Sisters, Margareta Blanck and Ingrid Axelson of Stockholm Sweden. One grandson, Ethan Blanck, and one daughter in law, Kim Cash Blanck, predecease him.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date in summer.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bremen Educational Foundation for Ethan Blanck Scholarship Fund, 501 Pacific Ave. Bremen, GA, 30110 and/or Hospice of the Chesapeake 445 Defense Hwy. Annapolis, MD 21401.
Online condolences may be made at www.LastingTributesFuneralCare.com
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