Craig Raymond Blair

Craig was born on November 27, 1965 to Ray and Patricia Blair in Portland. He found fun and good-natured mischief with his siblings and close neighborhood friends playing in the woods of the West Hills. He had a great love for sports, especially soccer which he played from a young age through all four years at Lincoln High School. He was a lifelong fan of both the Timbers and Trailblazers. But it was cycling that became his passion. He found solace, fitness, and challenge in bicycling. He loved to travel alone with his bike and rode thousands of miles along Hwy 101 (Portland to LA) and in places like France, Amsterdam, and Mallorca. He also enjoyed spending time with his extended family, visiting relatives in Ireland, England, and France.

Craig studied at the University of Puget Sound where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Management. While at UPS Craig was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity and played on the fraternity’s soccer team. He made deep friendships that he treasured for the rest of his life.

He continued his education with a post baccalaureate course in accounting at Portland State University and in his inimitable fashion passed the CPA exam on the first try. Craig started his 29-year career at GVNW Consulting where he served as a business and regulatory consultant for Federal Communications Commission-regulated telecommunications companies in six US states, American Samoa, Guam, and Saipan. He very much enjoyed interacting with clients and being the primary intermediary between those clients and regulatory agencies.

In 1998, he married Amy Henning. Their two sons, Alex and Dylan, were a great source of joy and pride for him. Craig and Alex enjoyed watching Seahawks and Blazer games together; he and Dylan bonded over music and attending concerts. He loved watching the boys play on various sports teams throughout their growing up years.

Craig was predeceased by his uncle and aunt, Fred and Anne Blair. He is survived by his sons, Alex and Dylan; parents, Ray and Patricia; siblings, Neil (Michelle) Blair and Alison (Sean) Thompson; nieces and nephews, Sarah and Eric Blair and Elliot, Ryan, and Julia Thompson; and cousins and friends around the world.

A memorial service will be held at Valley Community Presbyterian Church (8060 SW Brentwood, Portland, OR 97225) on April 20, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.

Remembrances can be made to National Down Syndrome Society (ndss.org) as Craig loved volunteering at Lincoln High School with students who had Down syndrome.