Steve Blenk is gone

11/26/04, 4:11 PM #1

Ellis Walentine
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Steve Blenk is gone

Ellis Walentine

>I received the terrible news today that Steve Blenk, a dear friend of mine and former contributing editor at AW, more recently with Woodworker's Journal, was killed in a freak accident on Hwy. 101 in Washington on Wednesday, when a dump truck swerved into his lane and hit his pickup head-on. Steve's son sustained minor injuries in the crash.

Steve was active in many of my early online ventures, including our official woodturning chat room at AOL back in the mid-90s. His chats were always well attended and lively, mostly due to Steve's quick wit and exhaustive knowledge of turning.

Some of you may also recall one of Steve's greatest claims to fame, when in 1996 he and Stuart Mortimer of the UK turned the world's largest bowl over the course of three American Woodworker shows. The sitka spruce monster began as a 2 1/2 *ton* blank and netted out as a 7'-9 3/4" dia. natural edged bowl.

He was a production turner and a brilliant man. It is such a shame to see his life cut short in this tragic and senseless way. It is a very sad day for the turning community. Please say a little prayer for Steve's wife and family.

Ellis Walentine, Host

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/26/04, 5:26 PM #2

Don Orr
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Re: Steve Blenk is gone

Don Orr

>Good thoughts and prayers are on the way to his family and friends. Very sad news even if I didn't know him. Sounds like quite a guy from your description.

Condolences, Don

- - -

My name is Don and I'm a Turning addict. There, I finally can admit I have a problem. The problem is not enough time to turn! I work as a Medical Imaging Tech for a living but that's just so I can light and heat the shop and buy more tools. I've been turning since 2000 and it has changed my life. I never had a creative outlet before I discoverd Woodturning and now I can't get enough. After I turned my first pen, my wonderful wife saw how excited I was and bought me a mini lathe. She now refers to herself as a "Turning Widow". She is a potter and quilter so she understands the obsession. My interests in turning are many and varied and I'm sure I will not live long enough to try everything I'd like to, but I'll give it a shot. Unfortunately we don't have any children or pets so you'd think I have all kinds of free time to turn, but for some reason I don't. I belong to the Adirondack Woodturners Association in upstate New York, the Mohawk Valley Woodturners, the Old Country Guild of Woodturnes and AAW, as well as the Northeastern Woodworkers Association. (I'd also like to learn to do flatwork someday.) Happy and Safe Turning, Don

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/26/04, 5:55 PM #3

Jennifer@Indy.USA
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Re: Steve Blenk is gone

Jennifer@Indy.USA

>This is very sad news indeed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Jen

- - -

Hello Everybody! I figure I've been hanging around WoodCentral for a few years now so I might as well officially post a Bio. I'm Jennifer and I reside in the heart of the Midwest in Indianapolis. You'll usually find me hanging out on the turning side of WoodCentral, but I check the Main forum too. I started woodworking about 25 years ago mostly interested in flatwork; small furniture and other items to use around the home. Then I discovered the lathe and became obsessed with it. I've been turning for about 23 years now. My love and excitement for turning has taken me into the world of teaching and frequent demonstrating. Lots of experimenting with textures, color, burning over the past several years. I've recently begun dabbling in metal clay work and have started incorporating it in to my turnings too. It's another toolbox full of toys! When I'm not turning, I'm hanging out with the love of my life and most honest critic, my husband Clay. In order to keep the lathe spinning and the lights on I spend the other part of my day at an ABC television station directing the evening newscasts.

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/26/04, 8:36 PM #4

n2wood
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Sad News

n2wood

>Ellis if he was a friend of yours then he must of been another wonderful guy. My prayers also will go out to his family.

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/26/04, 9:00 PM #5

Glenn Hodges
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Re: Steve Blenk is gone

Glenn Hodges

>What a loss, I am sorry for his familly in such a terrible time.

Nashville, Ga

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/26/04, 9:23 PM #6

Barbara Gill, Remlik Virginia
Guest

I Am So Sorry to Hear That.

Barbara Gill, Remlik Virginia

>

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/26/04, 10:05 PM #7

MikeinCapeMay
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I'll say a prayer for him and his family

MikeinCapeMay

>

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/27/04, 12:08 AM #8

DW
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You never know when it's your time...

DW

>

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/27/04, 12:25 AM #9

Keith Tompkins
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Re: Steve Blenk is gone

Keith Tompkins

>I spent almost an entire day in Orlando with Steve....walking through the instant gallery and checking out new tools....we had never met before, yet it seemed like we were old friends.

we had been communicating ever since.....this is a sad day. I wish peace and comfort to his family.

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/27/04, 12:52 AM #10

John Cotten
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Only met Steve once,

John Cotten

>But what a fine gentleman he was.

I will be keeping his family in my prayers.

What a loss.

John C.

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/27/04, 1:09 AM #11

john lucas
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Re: Steve Blenk is gone

John Lucas

>I've been reading articles about and by Steve Blenk for as long as I've been wood working. My deepest sympathies.

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/27/04, 3:37 AM #12

CJ in Minnesota
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Re: Steve Blenk is gone

CJ in Minnesota

>When I first began turning, I sat for hours going thru back issues of American Woodworker magazine at my public library looking for their occasional turning-related articles. Steve Blenk's fine articles are still some of my favorites to read and re-read. What a sad day for the turning community. My prayers are with the Blenk family in their time of loss and sorrow.

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/27/04, 6:03 AM #13

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.
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I Knew Steve...

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>Very sorry to hear about Steve's death. I met Steve in about 1987. I've visited Steve in his home near Sequim, Wash. When I and a group of other turners formed an AAW chapter near Seattle, Steve was our first demonstrator. He will be missed.

Wally

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/27/04, 2:08 PM #14

Bill Grumbine, Kutztown PA
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Re: Steve Blenk is gone

Bill Grumbine, Kutztown PA

>Ellis, I am very sorry to hear it. I only met Steve once, at the woodworking show in Ft Washington back in 1996. He was a very friendly guy and we had a very nice time for the short time we were together. His contributions will be sorely missed.

Bill

Re: Steve Blenk is gone

11/27/04, 2:44 PM #15

Mike Rubes, Apex, NC
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Re: Steve Blenk is gone

Mike Rubes, Apex, NC

>Hi Ellis,

I am very sorry to hear this. One of my very first exposures to woodturning was an article Steve did for American Woodworker back in the late 90's. I had actually bought the issue for a different article but Steve's bowl turning article is the one I remember from the magazine.

Mike

Steve Blenk is gone

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