[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 21, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E232-E233]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING ROBERT BLATTNER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 21, 2023

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
life of Robert ``Bob'' William Blattner, who passed away on February 2, 
2023, after 67 remarkable years of life.
  Bob was born in Erie, Pennsylvania to Bill and Mary Blattner. He 
spent his early childhood in Walnut Creek, CA, and moved to Pittsburgh, 
PA in 1964. Bob attended Yale University, where he studied medieval 
European history and captained the swim team.
  Bob began his career of service as a reporter after receiving his 
master's in Journalism from University of California Berkeley. He wrote 
for the Sacramento Union, the Daily Press of Newport News, Virginia, 
and the Sacramento Bee.
  In 1994, Bob began working as an education consultant, helping public 
school districts and county offices navigate the intricacies of school 
finance. In 2006, he founded Blattner & Associates, which lobbied 
lawmakers on behalf of public schools. Bob was also a frequent resource 
for reporters seeking insight on complex education stories and 
regularly hosted high school students to offer them a glimpse of life 
inside our state's Capitol. On Fridays, Bob could be found walking the 
halls of the Capitol in shorts and flip-flops explaining that ``the 
members aren't here anyway''.
  Bob was married to his beloved wife Ann for 30 years, and is survived 
by their sons, Jack and Robby, and his brother John. Those who knew Bob 
will remember him smiling. He enjoyed spending time and energy on the 
things he valued: music, good food and drinks, history, time in the 
water, and above all else, his friends and family.
  Bob was a compassionate public servant with a great sense of humor, 
and his upbeat attitude was contagious. Mr. Speaker, it is fitting and 
proper that we honor and thank Robert ``Bob'' William Blattner for his 
life of service to our grateful community.

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