Maynard Blomquist, 86, longtime resident of Severna Park, passed away at Country Meadows Retirement Community on February 21, 2025.

Maynard was born on August 16, 1938 to Harry and Selma Gustafson Blomquist in Kenedy, Texas, where he would read Popular Mechanics magazine and the novels of Thomas Wolfe, pick cotton, and earn the occasional quarter playing and singing "Lovesick Blues" by Hank Williams. When he graduated as valedictorian from Pawnee High School in 1956, he spoke of being a big frog in a small pond, and his first jump was a short one, to the University of Texas in Austin, where he studied electrical engineering, earning his bachelor's degree in 1960.

After being hired by Westinghouse, his next jumps were longer ones, to Pittsburgh for a short time and then to the suburbs of Baltimore, where he would meet his beloved wife Dorothy (Dee) Sexton and get married on April 25, 1965. Maynard was active in the Jaycees and was a successful bowler, judging from the number of trophies in his collection. He earned his master's degree from the University of Maryland in 1972, after which his work took him and his family to Iran and later Wichita, Kansas for short stays. He worked on radar systems and the space program at Westinghouse/Northrop Grumman for more than 50 years.

Music was a big part of Maynard's life. He played guitar and trumpet at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church and also played for many years in the Benfield Brass Band at concerts and festivals in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The concerts he attended ranged from Johnny Cash and Roy Orbison to Peter, Paul, and Mary, to many jazz greats: Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, several guitarists, including Charlie Byrd and the Great Guitars, the Manhattan Transfer, and flutist Ali Ryerson. He enjoyed many shows at the Maryland Inn in Annapolis and in later years was able to enjoy concerts on his TV when he wasn't using it to root for his Longhorns, Cowboys, Ravens, or Orioles.

Maynard enjoyed many vacations over the years, especially holiday visits with family in Texas at the Rockin' R Ranch. Later, his favorite getaways were cruises with Dee and sometimes the rest of the family to destinations throughout the Americas and Europe. He always had a ready smile and gentle sense of humor and loved to socialize at happy hours at his McKinsey Park condo community and later Country Meadows Retirement Community. If not a glass of wine, Maynard's preferred drink was an extra dry martini with olives. Favorite desserts included Key Lime pie, butter pecan ice cream, and his own pumpkin cream pie. Sunday roasts and his famous lasagna were also appreciatively devoured by family and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Dee Sexton Blomquist; his sisters, Marion Johns and Ardie Lege; and his brother, Harry Blomquist Jr. Maynard is survived by his son, Eric Blomquist (Sharon) of Potsdam, New York; his daughter, Adrienne (Joe) of Jefferson, Maryland; and his two grandchildren, Francesca Rosone and Dominic Rosone.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2025, from 4 to 7 pm at Barranco Severna Park Funeral Home & Cremation Care, P.A. at 495 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD 21146. A funeral service will be held the following day, Monday, March 3, 2025, at 11 am at the funeral home. The burial will follow at Glen Haven Memorial Park, 7231 Ritchie Hwy., Glen Burnie, MD 21061. Memorial contributions may be made in lieu of flowers to Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, 400 Benfield Rd., Severna Park, MD 21146 or to Hospice of the Chesapeake at the memorial donation link below.