Dr. Blair Whitney, 82, of Springfield, died March 14, 2025, at The Villas in Sherman. He was born in Chicago on June 1, 1942, the son of Frances and Ellen Todd Whitney. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1960. He married Rita Janicek in 1964, and she survives. He received his doctorate in English from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1967. He taught at 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 at the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
Blair 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.
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 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. He played on the YMCA noon basketball team and later swam at the YMCA.
Blair 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.
A memorial gathering will be held from 2-4 p.m., Saturday, March 29, at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield.
Memorial contributions can be made to Lincoln Library, 326 S. Seventh St., Springfield, IL 62701. Please see complete obituary at StaabObituary.com to share stories and photos.Â
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