Andre V. Blaylock, 'people doctor'
Andre V. Blaylock, MD, 61, was called home Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015, while at Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. He was surrounded by family and friends when he passed. His loving wife of 35 years, June, was beside him to the very end.
Andre was born April 10, 1954, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Lorenzo and Enid Blaylock of Lomita, Calif. He valued education and began his college career at Oakwood University in Alabama before transferring to Loma Linda University where he would graduate in 1976 with a bachelor of science degree. He would go on to receive his MD/PhD, and Certificate of Medicine from the Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1980. Following that, he would do a fellowship residency in Los Angeles. During his pre-med studies at Loma Linda, Andre would meet and tutor June as a nursing student. They were both fortunate that Andre was great at teaching algebra and chemistry because June needed help with both! June passed her classes and graduated with her nursing degree from Loma Linda. By that time they had developed a deep love for each other. June was enamored with Andre’s intelligence, patience and gentle, sweet disposition. Years later June would call Andre her “Google” because he was so smart. She loved that he showed empathy for others and had an infectious laugh and smile. In turn, he loved her outgoing and caring nature, and agreed with June’s mother, Eileen Evans, that June had never met a stranger. He simply adored her.
Andre married the love of his life, June Crystal Evans, June 29, 1980 in Las Vegas, Nevada. During their years together they would travel the world making memories. Sometimes visiting family in England or taking family to England, sometimes creating their own European itinerary day by day, just enjoying each other and having a wonderful time. They traveled to Europe many times and visited as many countries as they could, Italy being their favorite. While at home he absolutely loved watching sports (he had Dodgers season tickets and loved the Lakers!), cooking gourmet meals, listening to music (sometimes all at the same time!), reading, gardening or relaxing in his recliner with the family cat(s) on his lap. He would also spend hours discussing pop culture with his stepdaughters. He knew something about everything; he really was “Google.”
Dr. Blaylock practiced medicine for over 30 years. He was a commissioned officer of the U.S. Public Health Service; he and June spent three years living in Oklahoma where he was stationed in Talihina, Tulsa and Stillwater. His last year in Oklahoma was spent as the chief medical officer for the Claremore Indian Hospital. Returning to California, he went on to practice at former San Bernardino County Medical Center, now Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. He was the attending physician at the Family Practice Residency Program, and went on to become program director for 15 years, as well as a professor at the University of California, Irvine. Due to health issues he decided to make a change and work for Kaiser Permanente in California. While at Kaiser he worked in both urgent care and family medicine. Dr. Blaylock was known to his colleagues, residents, nurses and patients as a compassionate, kind and caring physician.
June grew up in Lewes, and had been homesick for over 40 years, so they moved to Delaware in 2010. Andre chose to work for La Red Health Center in Seaford. He was a “people doctor.” His heart and soul were with the underserved. He believed all people deserved good medical care. He had a deep and abiding faith in Lord Jesus and knew that we would all be together again someday.
Andre is survived by his loving wife June; two adoring stepdaughters, Rhonda Martinez of Redlands, Calif., and Juliet Martinez of Long Beach, Calif.; four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; one sister, Dellis Frank and her husband Bryan Frank of Palos Verdes, Calif.; a nephew, Jannon Frank of San Francisco, Calif.; nieces: Camia Frank of Los Angeles, and Dr. Dania Francis and her husband Cato; a grandniece, Sloan Francis of Boston, Mass.; and a host of relatives and friends in Great Britain and Trinidad as well, all of whom he loved unconditionally. He was preceded in death by his parents Lorenzo and Enid Blaylock.
Memorial Services will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, where friends may visit beginning at 2 p.m. Interment will be private.
Memorial contributions may be made in Dr. Blaylock's memory to the Gideons International, P.O. Box 155, Lewes, DE 19958 or ASPCA, 424 E. 92nd St., New York, NY 10128-680.
