Remembering E. Blair Warner
Celebrating a Local Legend

E. Blair and Jane Warner.

A Man of Incredible GraceLong-time South Bend resident, and community philanthropist E. Blair Warner died this summer. This local legend made an indelible mark on Memorial, and the entire community.

With more than 40 years of service to Memorial, Warner’s legacy can be seen and felt throughout the Health System. In fact, when E. Blair Warner first served on the board, Memorial consisted of just two buildings. “As you can see, we go back a long way,” says his wife of 57 years, Jane Warner.

Warner graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy, and Dartmouth College, receiving his Master’s of Commercial Science. After serving in the Army during World War II, Warner came back to South Bend in 1946 to begin managing his family’s business ventures, including ownership of the J.M.S. Building, where his future wife happened to work.

“I worked next to him in the building, and I’d leave the door open so sometimes he’d stop in to see me,” says Mrs. Warner.  In true South Bend fashion, their first date was the Notre Dame vs. Army game of 1947. After a two-year courtship, the two wed in 1949.

Jane and E. Blair Warner enjoy a family gathering on Diamond Lake.

A Family Man
Warner was a loving husband and proud father of four children, Kitty, Art, John and James all of whom he left with a sense of civic duty and responsibility, encouraging them in their own educations and careers. He was a booster and supporter of his children, with great confidence in all they could accomplish.

“He was a man of incredible poise, with a natural grace. He was thoughtful and diligent in all he did and he taught all of that to his kids,” says Reg Wagle, Vice President, Memorial Health Foundation.

Preparing for Blair
Warner served in a myriad of leadership roles for more than half of Memorial’s history, and preparing for board meetings was a big part of his lore. He was completely devoted to making sure that he was prepared for each and every board meeting.

“That kind of diligence was a really rare quality that Blair possessed,” adds Philip A. Newbold, President & CEO of Memorial Health System. “He was always knowledgeable, and always in touch with the greater issues."

“Along with Bill Carleton, the two of them used to pore over blue prints for the new buildings, making sure that the smallest details were taken care of, right down to making sure the broom closet was the right size,” says Mrs. Warner. “You would have thought they were moving in! I never saw two men work harder.”

One of his biggest concerns was mental health; serving on the local, state and national boards of the Mental Health Association for several years.

“This was at a time when people never talked about mental health. When people were just put in institutions,” adds Mrs. Warner. “That’s the thing I was always so proud of him for. To do something he knew was right, even if it wasn’t popular.”

In recognition of his commitment, he received the distinguished Service Award from the South Bend Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1950; and was appointed a Sagamore of the Wabash by Governor Robert Orr in 1982.

E. Blair and his sister Barbara

A True Pillar of the Community
One of Warner’s main interests was medical education. His commitment to create the E. Blair Warner Family Practice Center, and support for Memorial’s Family Practice Residency Program rose out of this passion.

“Blair understood the importance of training physicians right here in South Bend so that we would have a pipeline of the best and brightest physicians to serve our community,” adds Wagle.

Warner was not the only family member involved so completely with the community. Jane and her two best childhood friends, Jo Jo Meehan and Ernestine Raclin,
who have been friends “for longer than she would care to remember,” have served together on numerous boards as well.

“I’ve been on the Memorial Health Foundation Board for some time now,” says Mrs. Warner. “I enjoy it very much. I’m just delighted to be a part of Memorial.” She adds,
“I liked the fact that the two of us were so involved in the community together. I could talk everything over with him, and I learned so much from him.”

“You could always tell the love they had for each other, and how that blossomed into love for the community, working together on things,” says Christopher J. Murphy, president and chief executive officer of 1st Source, an organization that Blair was involved with for many years.

“We love this town,” adds Mrs. Warner. “And together, we loved being a part of this community.”