Blickensderfer selected Conneaut’s top citizen"CONNEAUT — Robert Blickensderfer — World War II pilot, local historian and award-winning photographer — has been selected Conneaut’s 2007 Citizen of the Year.
Blickensderfer, “Blick” to his many friends, was one of five nominees for the annual award, said Julie Germovsek, the chamber’s executive director. Nominees submitted by residents are voted upon by past award recipients and former chamber presidents.
Blickensderfer, a resident at the Villa at the Lake in Conneaut, has accumulated decades of public service, according to his nomination. A member of the Conneaut High School Class of 1939, he served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, piloting troop transport planes that participated in the Normandy invasion. He also flew planes during assaults of Sicily, Italy, Holland and the final paratrooper drop across the Rhine River.
He continued to serve as a U.S. Air Force reservist and, in 1967, was appointed liaison officer for the Air Force Academy, helping local students apply to the prestigious military academy.
Blickensderfer studied at the Ray School of Photography in Chicago and spent two years in photo work in Erie. In 1949, Blickensderfer took over the Howard Webb photo/ camera shop on downtown Main Street, a business he would operate for 30 years.
He was active with the First United Methodist Church for nearly 50 years, and also helped create the Conneaut Area Historical Society in 1996.
Blickensderfer’s extensive background in Conneaut history was invaluable, Edwin Wharton, society president, said Wednesday.
“He was very helpful with his knowledge of the area,” Wharton said. “He was our treasurer for many years. He was very well-known and an asset to the organization.”
Blickensderfer specialized in Native American artifacts and participated in local archaeological digs, Wharton said."
Hopefully the Ashtabula Star Beacon won't sue me for reprinting part of their article on Grandpa.
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