Blakesley, John Russell,died in his home in Huntington Beach on July 30 at the age of 81. He was born on July 17, 1930 in Cleveland, Ohio. John was an avid outdoorsman, an enthusiastic sports fan, a diligent exerciser, a worthy chess opponent, and a golfer throughout his life. John competed in track and field events in high school and college, and in amateur meets into middle age. He briefly held an age-specific world record in the hurdles. John loved the wilderness, and spent much of his vacation time camping and backpacking with his family and the Boy Scouts. He was a loyal friend to many, including the "lunch bunch," former co-workers at Hughes Aircraft. He was a regular attendee at Edison High School track practices and meets. Married to Julia Kohring in 1955, John is survived by Julia (Bob) Sherwood of South Haven MI, by his three children, Glenn Blakesley (Tina von Moltke) of Redding, CA, Jennifer Blakesley of Bellvue, CO, and Andrea Blakesley of Denali Park, AK; and by granddaughters Jasmine Blakesley of Moscow, ID, and Nikita von Moltke of Redding, CA. John was preceded in death by his sister Harriet Harned and his grandson, Forrest Blakesley, and is survived by sisters Pat Gallant of Toledo, OH and Dorothy Wake (Sam) of Sacramento, CA. A celebration of John's life will be held at 2:30 PM on Sunday, August 14 at the Huntington Beach Central Library. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of John be made to the Edison High School Track Boosters or a charity of your choice. For further information or to share your stories of John with his family, please contact johnblakesleylifecelebration@gmail.com