Dr. Blair Whitney, 82, of Springfield, died March 14, 2025, at the Villas in Sherman. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1960. He married Rita Janicek in 1964, and she survives. He received his Ph.D. in English from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1967. He taught at the University of Illinois, Central Missouri State University, Michigan State University and Lincoln Land Community College (part-time). He was an assistant director of academic affairs for the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
He published a book about John G. Neihardt and numerous articles on American literature. He was a playwright. Many of his plays received productions or staged readings.
His play Vachel was performed at the Springfield Theater Guild during the 100th celebration of Vachel Lindsey’s Life. He won the Lincoln Library’s Writer of the Year award for this play.
His second performed play was about Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S. It was presented at New Salem State Park in Petersburg, IL. A third professional production was at the 13th Street Theater in New York. He was also an actor in many community theaters, college and high school plays.
As much as he liked theater, he was an avid sports fan. As a teen he played basketball at Douglas Avenue Methodist Church and bowled on a team in high school and beyond. He was a lifelong Cardinals fan and always followed U of I football and basketball in good times and bad. He played on the YMCA noon basketball team and later, swam at the YMCA. He loved to walk. In good weather he would walk home from work and on weekends he walked in Washington Park.
Blair met with friends once a week to discuss politics, the environment and local issues.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two uncles, and two aunts. Survivors include his daughters, Ruth Antonoff and Helen Whitney. There are four grandchildren, Zachary and Chelsea Marek and Eva and Joseph Antonoff.
Blair never forgot a birthday or anniversary or other holidays. Sometimes he would bring Rita a bouquet of flowers for no special reason because he knew she liked them.
A memorial gathering will be held from 2 – 4 pm, Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield.
Memorial contributions can be made to Lincoln Library, 326 South 7th Street, Springfield, IL 62701. Please see complete obituary at StaabObituary.com.
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