Obituary of Catalino Advincula Blanche

Dr. Catalino Advincula Blanche was born on November 25, 1947 in Santa, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. He is the eldest child of Mr. Emilio Peralta Blanche and Mrs. Concepcion Advincula Blanche, the oldest of six siblings. Even at a young age, Lino had shown promise of achieving great things. After graduating from elementary school in 1961, he earned a scholarship and moved to a different province to study at the University of the Philippines Rural High School. He graduated as class valedictorian. In 1969, he finished his bachelor’s degree in Wood Science and Technology at the UP Los Banos (UPLB). He was recruited by the College of Forestry Faculty to teach plant physiology and plant ecology classes immediately after graduation. During the time that he was teaching, he finished a master’s degree in Agriculture at UPLB.

It was in college where he met the love of his life, Fe Celeste Bayta, whom he married in 1975. In the same year, they relocated to the US. Together, they had two lovely daughters, Kathryn Vanessa and Kathleen Marie. He was a very loving and dedicated husband, father and family man, working hard and diligently to provide for his family. In the US, he pursued MS Ecology/Biochemistry at the University of Georgia (UGa). He then obtained a doctorate degree in Plant Physiology/Crop Ecology from the Mississippi State University (MSU) in 1980. After a post-doctoral job at MSU, Catalino took a faculty position at Southern University where he served as Director of Urban Forestry Program. He eventually transferred to Arkansas to work for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service as Staff Scientist. This position ultimately led to the family moving to Herndon, Virginia as he accepted the position of National Program Leader for the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), managing the McIntire-Stennis Program and other projects. He was well respected and well-thought-of by people he had worked with and those who were lucky enough to know and have crossed paths with him.

Dr. Blanche was a past president of the Philippine American Academy of Scientists and Engineers (PAASE). He was one of the founding members of the UP Varrons Ltd., a socio-civic organization at UPLB.  
Catalino was an avid SEC college sports fan, cheering his favorite Dawgs: UGa and MSU through college football and basketball season. He also enjoyed gardening as well as traveling.

After suffering a massive heart attack last year, Catalino succumbed to complications from his heart condition and passed away on January 29, 2018. He is survived by his beloved wife, Fe Celeste; daughter, Kathryn Vanessa (Blanche) Runion and granddaughter, Kaitlyn Mayari Runion; daughter Kathleen Marie Blanche and son-in-law, Nicholas Rennie. He also leaves behind his parents, siblings, Senee (Blanche) and Ricardo Virgula; Vicente and Amelia (Adviento) Blanche and nephew, Christopher; Jose and Albine (Lansangan) Blanche and nephews, Joemm and Jordan; Ramon Emilio and Bellie (Beguija) Blanche, and nephew, Sherwin; Evelyn (Blanche) and Roy Pascua, and niece, Emily Jane and grandniece, Hayley, nephew, Eric Scott and Jeanette, grandnieces, Chiara and Antonella, grandnephews, Blaise and Ambrose, and niece Christine Marie. He is also missed by numerous other relatives, friends and co-workers.

There will be a viewing on February 6, 2018, from 5 – 8 pm at Adams-Green Funeral Home (721 Elden St., Herndon, VA 20170). A funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church (750 Peachtree St., Herndon, VA 20170) at 11 am on February 7, 2018. Please join us for a reception after the Mass at the Amphora Diner (1151 Elden St., Herndon, VA 20170).

Please share this invitation as appropriate.

In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting contribution in Catalinohttp://www.littlesistersofthepoorvirginia.org’s name to the Little Sisters of the Poor, a charity with a mission “to offer the neediest elderly of every race and religion a home where they will be welcomed as Christ”.

Little Sisters of the Poor Virginia
1503 Michaels Road
Henrico, VA 23229

Website: http://www.littlesistersofthepoorvirginia.org
Online donation: https://littlesistersofthepoorvirginia.weshareonline.org/ws/opportunities/GiftinMemoryofaDeceasedLovedOne

Catalino will be interred at Westminster Memorial Park in Westminster, CA.