Robert Brooks Blizard

Robert Brooks Blizard of Highlands Ranch, a retired aerospace engineer and active community volunteer, died Nov. 7, 2012, at the age of 88. He had lived in the Wind Crest retirement community since 2010. A remembrance service will be held at Columbine Unitarian Universalist Church on Sunday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. Robert Blizard was born Dec. 23, 1923, in New York City and grew up in Garden City, Long Island. After graduating from Princeton University, he earned a doctorate in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He worked as a seismic engineer and later as an aerospace engineer for Martin Marietta. He lived in the Littleton area for more than 40 years. After retiring, he volunteered at Planned Parenthood, working as an escort and giving talks at high schools about the dangers of casual sex. He also coached junior high students to prepare them for the Science Olympics. For several years he enjoyed teaching math to boys in a reformatory-like school. A dedicated member of the Unitarian Universalist Church, he held positions of leadership for many years. Over the years he supported many candidates running for office. He cast his last vote during the final week of his life. After the Blizards moved to Wind Crest, Bob organized a chess club that still meets each week. Bob leaves behind his devoted wife Frances, whom he married Jan. 9, 1982, three children and three step-children. In 1988 he wrote and self-published a short play, "A Matter of Life and Death," which he called "a dialog for four voices." It was performed at several Unitarian Universalist churches as well as at Wind Crest. "These characters helped me understand and put into words some of my complex and contradictory feelings and beliefs about life and death," he wrote in the preface. One character, an old man, says in his final conversation with his grandson, "I've always believed in taking life pretty much as it comes. I've lived and done what I could... I am as God made me. I believe in looking forward more than looking back. Maybe I can still learn something or help someone else learn something - or maybe I'll have a real good supper tonight."