Blanchard Jolly

Blanchard Jolly (90) of St. Petersburg was born in Tampa, Florida December 10, 1926. He graduated from Hillsborough High School and was selected for the Army Specialized Training Program. He completed the program at Davidson College in North Carolina and North Georgia College and upon graduation entered the Army Air Force as a cadet. After being discharged from the service, he attended the University of Florida. He showed a proclivity for drawing and decided to major in Architecture. He joined the Sigma Chi fraternity, and participated in intramural sports. During his course of studies, one of his projects was a hospital design that earned him a trip to New Orleans where he met the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright and together they discussed his design. Blanchard graduated from University of Florida with a Bachelor of Architecture. In 1950 joined the firm of William B Harvard, Architect and after passing the Florida state board exam he became a registered architect. He grew with the firm and earned his Associate title before becoming a Partner in the firm, now called Harvard Jolly Architects. They designed many projects such as the St. Petersburg Pier, Municipal Bandstand, St. Petersburg Yacht Club, St. Petersburg Main Public Library, St. Anthony's Hospital, Edward White Hospital, the St. Petersburg Historical Museum, Pasadena Community Church, and many other local projects. Throughout the state, his designs included St. Joseph's Hospital Tampa, Children's Library in Orlando, Civic Auditorium in Panama City, as well as numerous other schools, libraries, hospitals, and museums. Blanchard was a member of the AIA and the prestigious national committee on Architecture for Health. He was appointed to the Mayor's and Governor's "Committee for the Handicapped". He was a member of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club and served as Commodore in 1976. He was a member of Lakewood Country Club, the Dragon Club, the Suncoasters, and the Quarterback Club. He attended St. Thomas Episcopal Church where he often assisted the Flower Guild, parlaying his talent for landscaping into floral arrangements. Blanchard loved to sail, fly, fish, and hunt. He could be found fishing most every weekend and enjoyed helping the youth of St. Petersburg Yacht Club at the Sailing Center and regattas. After a heroic two month battle against skin cancer, he succumbed to the side effects of the treatments on Friday, November 3, passing away quietly in his sleep. He is survived by Becky, his wife of 66 years, two daughters Allison Blair Jolly and Jocelyn Jolly Fagan, and four granddaughters, Blair Jolly Elliot, Brendan Holland Fagan, Blanchard Jolly Fagan, and Bryce Jolly Fagan. A private family service will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Saturday, November 25. Following that, friends are encouraged to join in a celebration of his life at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club at 12:30pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Thomas Episcopal Church or to the Skin Cancer Foundation.