Lee Leslie Blackburn

Lee Blackburn, 77, a lifelong Tacoma resident, died on March 16, 2023.

He was predeceased by his parents Dorothy (Pollock) and Fred Blackburn, his sister Mary Dunn, and his beloved wife of 44 years, Janice.

When Lee was 6 his father built a 21 foot long boat with all the facilities to live aboard and Lee, his brother Jim, age 9, and their dad went to Neah Bay to fish for salmon. They spent the summer there, occasionally driving home for a few days. These five summers of fishing created memories that never left Lee. They were a central part of what drove him the rest of his days. The scenes witnessed – millions of birds, yes millions, diving on prey. The sea red with euphausiids for as far as the eye could see. Fights with huge fish, some lost, and some won. All of these memories formed Lee’s love of the water.

Humor, fun, and friendship were easy given his parents and these rich experiences.

After graduating from Wilson High School he became a medical corpsman in the army. Lee worked primarily at Asarco as a maintenance and steel worker, then at Bremerton Naval Shipyard as a shipfitting worker (that included working on submarine hatches) and as a gas free tech.

Lee was a lover of life, he made the most of each day. He enjoyed nature and working on physically-demanding projects. He loved boating and fishing with his family.  Lee loved fishing and crabbing around the Puget Sound. Over the years he took longer trips to places such as the San Juan Islands, Edmonds, and La Conner. He traveled to Alaska and tropical locations with his family on large cruise ships. He also looked forward to stays at Cannon Beach, Oregon with his wife.

Lee was a lifelong member of the Tacoma Yacht Club and enjoyed meals there with friends and family.

He loved NFL football (go Seahawks!) and local college sports. Lee was a lifelong weight lifter and fitness enthusiast. He liked to research the latest supplements and healthy approaches to living.

He battled pancreatic cancer and heart troubles during his final 4 years.  Any donations in his memory may be made to pancreatic cancer organizations. A special thanks to his doctors and their staff: Drs.  Kennecke, Martin, and Smoots.

He is survived by his brothers: Robert Salatino, Sr. and James Blackburn and nieces and nephews: Susan, Theresa, Nicole, Elise, Robert Jr., Allen, Margaret, and Gary.

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