Aaron Sam Blanchard, known as Coach Blanchard to the PHS fencing team, died at age 56 on December 2, 2024 at the RWJ University Hospital. He was surrounded by his wife and three daughters, one of whom is a PHS graduate. Blanchard was born in Salem, Oregon and grew up in the nearby town of Independence. While studying at the University of Oregon in 1987, Blanchard discovered his passion for fencing. In 1995, Blanchard began fencing foil competitively, eventually achieving A rank, the highest rating possible.

Blanchard relocated to Princeton with his wife in 2000. He soon joined Princeton YMCA’s fencing program to coach multiple classes. When the YMCA shut down the program in 2023 after the pandemic, Blanchard continued to teach his students at his own club, Princeton Interscholastic Fencing. In addition to teaching year-long fencing courses at all levels, Blanchard also started fencing programs at local elementary and middle schools, including Princeton Charter School. From 2018, Banchard was also a coach at the Bucks County Academy of Fencing.

Blanchard joined the PHS community in 2012, when he was hired as the assistant coach for the fencing team. In his time at PHS, he led the team to success at the state level, bringing home individual and team awards. Many remember Blanchard as a highly passionate and creative coach, devising his own system of warmups with unique names. Rebecca Zhang ’26, the captain of the girls foil squad, expressed gratitude for Blanchard’s contributions to the Princeton fencing community.

“I’ve trained with Coach Blanchard ever since sixth grade. He was a great role model ... he never once complained about my mistakes or my irresponsibilities, but instead he took his time to teach me what it meant to be a mentally stronger, a more responsible fencer and a better person,” said Zhang.

In addition to fencing, Blanchard had a passion for drawing cartoons and comics. He enjoyed comics since childhood, and worked as a comic artist under the pseudonym of “Shlepzig,” amassing many fans and becoming a regular at several comic cons. Blanchard’s family said that at the time of his passing, Blanchard still had much he planned and hoped to experience.

“There was so much Sam had hoped to still do in life — he planned myriad comics, many more fencing classes, after school fencing clubs, adventures in grandparenthood, and countless future endeavors,” his family wrote.

Anita Ndubisi ’26, echoing Zhang’s sentiments, reflected on the entire team’s gratitude for the contributions Blanchard made to the team in his 11 years as a coach.

“Coach Blanchard was more than just a coach to us — he was a true mentor and friend. He gave so much, including providing us with fencing equipment, all because he wanted us to enjoy the sport,” said Ndubisi. “Every member of our team would agree that Coach Blanchard was a great coach, and we are all thankful for everything he did for us.”