Blake William Wilson
Blake William Wilson died in his sleep on April 25, 2023. A man with irrepressible energy, focus on fun, and a consummate rule breaker, he was born at the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital on June 7, 1948. His parents were William Henry Wilson and Shirley McMahan Wilson.
Blake was a proud graduate of Humpty Dumpty Nursery School ‘52, Laguna Blanca School ’65, and Colorado College ’69. At Colorado College, he distinguished himself as the creator of the first student demolition derby. Upon graduation he taught math in Oregon, then became a businessman with an astonishing ability to negotiate and be granted the maximum corporate discount on travel and lodging. Blake founded Ecolog Products and Snow Board Skeeter (this was before snowboards were allowed on resort hills). He was a skilled telemarketer of Oil Leases, which led to his becoming a telemarketing compliance consultant. His projects were consistently cutting edge.
Blake was a veteran of dozens of blue-water sailing races to Mexico, and a seven-time Transpac yachtsman racing to Honolulu and Tahiti. He was also a fifty-year part-time resident of Puerta Vallarta, México. The list continues but is not limited to: private pilot, scuba diver, outrigger paddler, rescuer of abandoned dogs, fly-fisherman, NCAA championship soccer player, co-holder of the record for recovery of lobsters and abalone off the California coast, backyard farmer and perennial ribbon winner for the most succulent tomatoes at Ventura County Fair, founder of the Big Duck Sewer Company, champion Monopoly and Marco Polo player, and with his spouse, resolute hiker on the world’s iconic trails returning each year to the eastern Sierras and the Grand Tetons.
He was a generous supporter of dozens of local non-profits including the Ojai Valley Hospital Foundation, Ojai Music Festival, Ojai Land Conservancy, Help of Ojai, Ojai Defense Fund, and the AVID program at Nordhoff High School, where he often tutored math. Blake also served on the Ojai Redevelopment Commission from 1986 to 1992. In addition, he provided direct college scholarships to the children of his extended family and co-workers. He also sponsored the family of his immigrant friend through the many obstacles in their years-long, arduous path to gain US citizenship.
Blake is survived by his steadfast spouse of forty-three years Susanne Sheahan Wilson, Blake’s siblings (and their spouses) Kimberley Wilson, Brooke Wilson (Richard Seawards), Scott Wilson (Kirkley), Rand Wilson (Sheree), and Blake’s in-laws Casey Sheahan (Noreen), Caroline Sheahan, Marnie Paulus (Tony), Kathleen Reid (Kemble White) as well as scores of loyal friends, and loving nieces, nephews, and godchildren. He was a larger than life partner, brother-in-law/outlaw, and friend. Sal si puedes, mi mejor amigo.