Keith Blair Obituary

BLAIR, KEITH P. Always dedicated to his profession of dentistry and to his family, Dr. Keith P. Blair died on September 5, 2009, at the San Diego Hospice from heart failure and MRSA. Dr. Blair worked tirelessly for almost 60 years to promote excellence in dentistry through his editorials in a number of dental publications and his practice in East San Diego. Dr. Blair was born in Little Falls, Minnesota, on November 24, 1922, the last of five sons born to Peter and Josephine Blair. When World War II broke out, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was ordered to John Carroll University. In 1944, orders brought him to the Marquette University School of Dentistry, where he graduated in 1947. Two more years of active duty brought him to San Diego. Dr. Blair decided to stay in San Diego and set up his dental practice. He became active in the San Diego County Dental Society, holding the position of president in 1975, and the editor of the Dental Society Bulletin for 12 years. He also became the editor of the California Dental Assn. publication. Because of his contributions as a dental editor, Dr. Blair was invited to be a member of the American College of Dentists, a national honor society, and was the editor of its publication for 13 years. In 1983, he was asked to be in another honor society, the International College of Dentists. He was especially proud of an editorial that stopped the closure of a dental school. While running his dental practice, Dr. Blair was also in the U.S. Naval Reserve for 30 years, retiring with the rank of lieutenant commander in 1972. Dr. Blair was also active in the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic service organization, becoming Grand Knight (president) in 1955. At the time of his death, Dr. Blair was the oldest living 4th Degree Grand Knight in San Diego County. A devoted family man, Dr. Blair was married to his beloved wife, Eileen, for almost 50 years before her death in 2001. They had three children, Dennis (Mary), Marian (Ed), and Noreen (Jack). They also had nine grandchildren, Trevor, Blair, Devon, Morgan, Patrick, Anne, Kevin, Garrett and Lauren. A rosary for Dr. Blair will be held at 6:30 p.m. on September 10th, with visitation from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Funeral will be on September 11th at 1 p.m., also at Blessed Sacrament.