Obituary of Paul Harrison Blanchet

Born on March 24th, 1938 in Saint John, NB. Died at 85, on July 20th, 2023, in Hospice House, Fredericton, NB.

Predeceased by his parents Paul Maurice and Patricia Louise (Harrison) Blanchet and his siblings Connie Thomson, Patsy Buick, Pete Blanchet and his mother-in-law Mary (Bezan) Arnold, father-in-law George Courtenay Arnold, brother-in-law John Arnold.

Survived by his wife of 54 years Lynne (Arnold) Blanchet and daughters, Nicole Blanchet (Kyle Winstanley) of Calgary, AB, Claire Blanchet of Montreal, QC and siblings, Jim Blanchet (Norma) of Rothesay, NB, Eleanor Vineberg (Harry) of Halifax, NS, Rus Blanchet of Saint John, NB, Cynthia Parker (Dick) of Saint John, NB, Linda Webb (Phillip) of Saint John, NB, Margie Blanchet of Westfield, NB, Mike Blanchet of Renforth, NB, Charlie Blanchet of Saint John, NB, John Thomson, godson, of Saint John, NB,and several nieces and nephews.

One of Claire’s good friends observed:

“Your Dad was one in a million.  He had a rare quality of being able to understand happiness, and understand levity, and understand joy. He had a special quality that not a lot of people have and it is felt when you meet someone like that. You kind of instantly understand the rarity of them.”

Before his health declined, Paul was a devotee of the YMCA’s gym, working out vigorously in the early morning hours. He generously gave his time to student journalists trying to understand why New Brunswick’s civil servants were suing the province for retroactively reducing their pensions. And he was famous among his friends for mixing an icy martini, garnished with a big green olive.

Paul was president of the University of New Brunswick’s graduating class of 1961. With his degree in Civil Engineering, he worked for several years in the pulp and paper industry in Kapuskasing, ON; Rexdale, ON; Neenah, Wisconsin; and Saint John, NB.

He was admitted to the Law Society in 1971 after he obtained a LL. B. from the University of New Brunswick the same year.  He worked for several decades as a lawyer in the New Brunswick Department of Justice and in private practice in the areas of labour arbitration, construction, and civil litigation law.

Paul served in the Algonquin Regiment in Ontario, in the 1st Royal New Brunswick Regiment, and on the 1st Royal New Brunswick Regiment Advisory Board. He retired with the rank of Major.

Always supportive of Nicole and Claire’s interests, he was a founding member of Dance Fredericton and a board member for several years.

Paul also served as Commodore of the Fredericton Yacht Club, and was rarely happier than when he was sailing with his friends and family.

“Believe me my young friend, there is nothing - absolutely nothing I hold so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.”

-The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Christ Church Cathedral. For those unable to attend the service, a livestream will be available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/@christchurchcathedralfton

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate  donations to Hospice Fredericton or the Christ Church Cathedral Restoration Fund.