Dr. Dale Blackwell

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Dr. Dale Blackwell, 89, beloved husband, father, brother, son and uncle. He joined the Lord on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Earl B. Hadlow Center for Caring in Jacksonville, Florida surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on July 16, 1935, in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina to Sue Guthrie Blackwell and Melbourne Dale Blackwell.

Dale completed his high school education in 1953 at Fairbanks High School where upon graduation he enrolled at the University of Alaska for two years, majoring in Civil Engineering. In 1955 he enlisted in the Army where he met another musician, Sam Fricano, and together, they would play in boot camp when able. Dale performed in the CONARC Band at Fort Monroe, VA along with his father who was his First Sergeant. Four years later he attended William and Mary and later enrolled at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Music Education and Master of Music Composition Degrees. After teaching for several years, he decided to return to school where he enrolled at The Florida State University and earned his PhD in Music Education. As he was completing his dissertation, he was told of a job opening as Band Director of Instrumental Music in Jacksonville at Florida Junior College. He was employed at FJC until retirement in 1999. His students called him “Doc,” though whether that’s because he played the trumpet like Severinsen or because of his PhD is anybody’s guess.

Dr. Blackwell (Professor Emeritus) completed a distinguished career as Professor of Instrumental Music and Director of Bands at Florida Community College at Jacksonville, a position which began in August 1971. He previously served as Brass Instructor at Valdosta State College and held the position of Band Director at Kecoughtan High School and H. Wilson Thorpe Junior High School, both in Hampton, Virginia and Carteret County Schools in Beaufort, NC, his hometown.

A professional trumpet player from the age of 16, Dale has performed with the big bands of Ray McKinley, Buddy Morrow, Warren Covington, the show bands of Henry Mancini, Della Reese, Pat Boone, Red Skelton, Carol Channing, the Mills Brothers, Holiday on Ice, Ringling Brothers Circus, The O’Jays, Frankie Laine, Patti Page, Lou Rawls, Steve Lawrence, Chuck Mangione, and many others, and Broadway musicals whose headliners include Robert Goulet, Robert Morse, Mitzi Gaynor and others. He was also an assistant conductor to Willis Page, a solo cornet player in the St. Johns River City Brass Band, and the co-founder & co-conductor of the First Coast Wind Symphony. Dale retired from conducting in May of 2024.

Dale was a devoted and loving husband, and one of the best. We will miss his timeless stories and his passionate love for the Washington Redskins and the LA Dodgers. He is leaving an amazing legacy of loving life and truly living it to its fullest. Doc was an enthusiastic teacher and was so proud of his students’ achievements. His music demands were simple, and his students understood.

Tremendous heartfelt gratitude goes to all the doctors, nurses, and caregivers who aided in his care at the Baptist Medical Center South, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, and River Garden Senior Services. Special thanks to Pinnacle Homecare and Baptist Homecare for coming into our home when we needed your care and to our loving family and friends. All of them played an enormously important role and we are forever grateful.

He will be missed by his loving wife of 41 years, Evelyn Baker Blackwell, his daughter Claudia, brother Hugh Blackwell and his children, Jeff, Keith & Melissa Blackwell, stepchildren Angela Byerly, Julie Stanton & Vince Griffith, grandchildren Laci Byerly, Courtney Clark, Adam & Chris Stanton, Baker Griffith, Natalie Keller (Evan), Cassandra Griffith & Charlie Griffith, and great-grandchildren Machenzie, Reanna, Jacob Clark, Fletcher Griffith, Annabelle, Tera, and Rosie Keller, Megan Griffith.

A celebration of life will be held for Dale at Mandarin Presbyterian Church on Saturday, May 17th, 2025 at 1pm.