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.”

The Tower

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The Tower