Bradford M. "Doc" Blanchard

Bradford M. Blanchard, M.D. or "DOC", as he was affectionately known by many, beloved husband and soulmate of Lauralyn Watson Blanchard, passed away on June 30, 2015 at home surrounded by his loving family. Born in Uxbridge, MA, June 14, 1928, son of the late Carlton and Gertrude Martin Blanchard, Doc made his home in West Hartford for the past 55 years. He attended Norwich Free Academy, was a graduate of Deerfield Academy, 1946, Yale University, 1950 and Temple Medical School, 1954. He completed his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at Hartford Hospital and in Neurology at the University of Michigan. He served two years as a Medical Officer in the 31st Infantry Regiment in post-war Korea. He was a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Fellow of the American Certified Physicians, board member of the Connecticut Society of Internal Medicine and practiced medicine for 48 years at Hartford Hospital, where he was a Senior Staff member. He was also in private practice in Hartford and West Hartford where he was recognized as a fine diagnostician and a dedicated and caring friend to his many loyal patients. For years he taught clinical, bedside medicine at Hartford Hospital and was a Clinical Assistant at the University of Connecticut Dempsey Hospital. He had great respect for his patients and always firmly believed that the cornerstone of good care was listening closely to the story of the patient's illness and doing a thorough physical exam. The personal relationship far exceeded the need for fancy laboratory and technological studies. He served as former President and Board Member of the Hartford Medical Society, consistent with his belief that practicing physicians should continue some academic pursuits "to stay sharp". He authored numerous articles for national medical journals including The New England Journal of Medicine and the Annals of Internal Medicine. He served for five years as Medical Examiner for the city of Hartford. He was a member of the American Medical Society and the Connecticut Medical Society. His greatest interest was in the Hartford Medical Society where he twice served as President. This society is concerned with both medical history and education, not political or economic issues. He served as President, Board Member, and coach for many years in the West Hartford Youth Hockey Program. He was also past President, Board Member and long-time (1958-2015) friend of the Hartford Tennis Club, where he was recently named an Honorary Member. He was a New England ranked tennis player in Senior doubles and chaired many USTA tournaments at the Hartford Tennis Club. Sport for him was a metaphor for life: practice, work hard, play fair, respect your opponent, and play to win. He was an active member of The First Church of Christ in West Hartford for many years and was more recently a member of Asylum Hill Congregational Church. His family and close friends will forever miss his curious mind and keen sense of humor, which brought joy to every occasion. Doc touched a tremendous number of lives with his thoughtfulness and laughter. In addition to his wife of 57 years, Lauralyn Watson Blanchard, he leaves to cherish his memory, three marvelous daughters, Susan Blanchard of Springfield, New Hampshire; Lisa Blanchard DeConto and her husband Richard of Essex, MA; Pamela Blanchard Harrington and her husband Anthony of Pacific Palisades, CA; and a wonderful son Jeffrey Russell Blanchard and his wife, Sarah Whitney Blanchard of West Hartford; nine loving grandchildren whom he adored with all of his heart: Will, Annie and Liddy DeConto; Jack, Kate and Natalie Harrington; and Ned, Brad and Chuck Blanchard. He is also survived by his brother Allan Blanchard and his wife Eleanor and 11 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by both of his parents, his brother Douglas Blanchard and his wife Barbara Pressier Blanchard, his sister Mary Blanchard Kirkiles and her husband William Kirkiles, and his sister-in-law Ann Miraldo Blanchard. A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 31st at 10:00 AM at Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, CT. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Compassion & Choices- CT, P.O. Box 48, Etna, NH 03750 or The Hartford Tennis Club Trust Fund, 25 Flagg Road, West Hartford, CT 06117. For directions and online condolences, please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com.