I first met Blaine in Iowa City in ~1975 at a University of Iowa Christian Reformed Campus Ministry discussion of a book by Os Guiness, The Dust of Death: A Critique of the Establishment and the Counter Culture and the Proposal for a Third Way. We both relished critiquing the establishment and the world around us in a search for truth and development of our life paths. Eventually, over several years, our beliefs diverged from our Judeo/Christian heritage. About six months later Blaine married Nancy Adams and I was very honored that he chose me as Best Man for the wedding. In the ensuing years we were often a threesome sharing meals, music and discussion. He often helped me, for example, when I painted my car. He also tried to convince me to build a home on the extra lot next to his home. They were both very supportive of me as I struggled to come out as a gay man. We were all delighted when Sarah was born. Eventually I introduced my friend Greg Newsum to Blaine and they also became good, long lasting friends. We tried to encourage each other in creative expressions. I think I benefited greatly from Blaine's unfettered praise of my photography and my electron microscopy biomedical research. He traveled with me to Toronto when I gave my first presentation at an international scientific meeting. We were delighted to eat a Salad Crab Louis which was unfamiliar to us. It was a great trip.
In the early 1980's we drifted apart mostly due to distance. I moved to San Francisco in 1983 and could not visit Iowa or Denver very often. We did share some correspondence and telephone calls. I was not a great corespondent but Blaine wrote voluminously. Writing was his passion. Blaine did manage to visit me in San Francisco one time and I visited him several times in Denver.
When I think of Blaine I can hear his laugh. He truly could enjoy the moment and instantly turn to critique an injustice. He also enjoyed the banter of argument often taking a contrary position just for the sake of discussion. I will sorely miss my friend of forty years and his essence as a human compatriot will remain embedded in my life.