Craig Van Arsdale Blouin
Craig wrote this mission statement upon retirement on 9/1/2012:
“I’ll live my life with spirit, wonder and gratitude. There’s plenty of time to learn new things and explore new realms, plenty of occasion to reminisce, remember and celebrate, and plenty of opportunity to share the knowledge, skills and wisdom I’ve gained up until today.”
Craig fully embraced and lived his mission until he was tragically killed in a bicycle accident on June 18 in Delta, Utah. Though leaving us way too early, he packed a whole lot of living into his 72 years!
Craig was a proud, engaged and devoted father, loving and supportive husband, kind and caring brother, loved and was loved by so many people around the globe. He was an activist promoting social justice issues, solutions to prevent gun violence, climate justice and developing the political will for a livable planet.
Though only living in Salt Lake City for less than 5 years, he and Beth volunteered for many organizations, some of which included the Sundance Film Festival, Save Our Canyons, HEAL Utah, SUWA, the Rumi Poetry Club, and served as a political delegate in Utah. He was the co-leader for the Cancer Support Group in New Hampshire and then in Salt Lake City.
Craig & Beth have thoroughly enjoyed living in the spectacular state of Utah and have spent as much time as humanly possible hiking, biking, running, skiing and just marveling at the amazing natural landscapes all around. They started coming to Utah to visit their son, Nate.
They slowly fell in love with the Wasatch Mountains and the vibrant city of Salt Lake. One day,
they asked Nate if he would be okay if they moved to Utah and he said without hesitation “You would love it here. You should do it!”
Craig was born in Montclair, New Jersey, but the family moved to “Old Joy Farm” in South Berwick, Maine when he was six months old. Craig spent his childhood there and attended the local grammar school. He graduated from the Holderness School in New Hampshire. He received his B.A. from Lafayette College in Easton, PA. After college, he spent 7 years traveling around the U.S. photographing and immersing himself in the beauty of the natural environment, culture and people he met all over the country. Inspired by what he experienced,
He chose to pursue an advanced degree in Photography and Fine Arts at the Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, MO.
Craig became a professional photographer and was recognized for his nature photography and his work has been published widely over the years. In the 1990s, Craig changed gears dramatically as he shared being an at-home parent, managing the family business, Maurice F Blouin Company and retired from the American Cancer Society in NH where he was a patient support specialist.
Craig leaves behind his wife of 31 years, Beth Allen of Salt Lake City, his son, Nathan Allen Blouin currently living in Providence, RI and a sister, Deborah Kimble Blouin of Tempe, AZ. He is predeceased by his mother, Carolyn Martindale Blouin in 2000, his father, Maurice Francis Blouin in 2001 and his brother, Denault Martindale Blouin in 2016. He will be dearly missed by in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and beloved friends all over the country and beyond.
Donations in his memory can be made to the Fresh Air Fund in NYC, the Citizens’ Lobby Salt Lake City Chapter of the South Valley Unitarian Church in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. An alternative tribute would be to donate or join a local non-profit organization of your choice that focuses on human rights, gun violence solutions, environmental protection and renewable, sustainable energy, all causes that Craig embraced.
A celebration of Craig’s life , a social time to share food, drink and stories with friends old and new, will be held on Saturday, June 23 from 7 - 9 pm at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Guests are encouraged to use the complimentary valet parking provided on the north side of the building.