David Blair, beloved Waldorf teacher, died November 3, 2013 at Tru Community Care Hospice Center in Louisville, Colorado from melanoma. He was 61 years old.David was born October 3, 1952 in Philadelphia, PA to John Thompson Blair and Margaret (Peggy) Patterson Blair, and grew up in Cinnaminson, New Jersey, a suburb of Philadelphia where his father worked. He graduated from Cinnaminson High School in 1970 and continued on to Rutgers University, where he majored in political science and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1975. A good athlete and avid baseball fan, David pitched his way to a summer in the semi-pros. Discovering that baseball at this level was not as much fun as he had imagined, he changed course and went to work in sales for Libby Glass, first in Philadelphia and later in Los Angeles.During that time, David began to study anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner's philosophy of human development and spirituality. Anthroposophy supports a well-rounded, dynamic school curriculum (Waldorf Education) based on Steiner's insights into human development and an artistically imbued approach to living. This quest led him to a training at Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks, CA, where he discovered his life's vocation - teaching. David taught for 22 years at the Green Meadow Waldorf School in Chestnut Ridge, NY. David was also a trainer of Waldorf teachers, an anthroposophical adult educator and a curriculum presenter. He possessed a gift as a public speaker and brought warmth, humor and understanding through his eloquence. In 2004, David moved to Boulder, CO to continue his career as a Waldorf teacher at the Shining Mountain Waldorf School. On June 29, 2013, after a decade of intimate involvement, David married the love of his life, Thyria Ogletree, a Waldorf eurythmy teacher.Previous marriages to Susan Tew and Marjorie Rossiter ended in divorce. David had no biological children but considered all of his students his children. He said, What perhaps strikes me more than anything is what an unusual path it is in life to accompany children for so many years who do not happen to be my own relatives. But in a certain way they live as deeply within me as relatives might in my life.In addition to loving Waldorf Education, David had a lifelong passion for the Philadelphia baseball team. He figured out many ways to incorporate the Phillies into his lesson plans, from American History to life lessons for his students about winning graciously as well as dealing with multiple losses. He loved riding his motorcycle and the feeling of freedom it afforded him. He was a rock music aficionado and a fan of the Grateful Dead in particular.David's spiritual depth and his warm sense of humor made him, and what he had to share, accessible to everyone lucky enough to cross his path. He was a balanced man, with great depth and humility and a sense of mischief that attracted people of all ages. He had high standards, yet he was forgiving of himself and others. His students adored him, as did their parents. His colleagues respected and depended on him. The followers of the website that informed his friends of his condition while he was ill numbered over 800, but the effect he had on his students and friends is unquantifiable, immense and everlasting.His parents, Jack and Peggy, preceded David in death. He is survived by his wife Thyria Ogletree and step children Kyra and Nyal McGee; brother and sister-in-law John and Anne Blair; and nieces Caitlin Oksenvaag and her husband Erik and Wendy Stephan, her husband Andrejko and their daughters Molly and Zoë.Funeral services will be held at 4:00 pm Thursday, November 7 at the First United Methodist Church, 1421 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the David Blair Care Fund, PO Box 269, Hygiene, CO 80533 to defray family expenses; or in David's memory to the Shining Mountain Waldorf School, 999 Violet, Boulder, CO 80304; or in David's memory to the Green Meadow Waldorf School, 307 Co Road 71, Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977. Visit www.mylifeline.org/davidblair or www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences.
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