Obituary of Steven Guy Blask

Dr. Steven “Steve” Guy Blask, age 60, of Melbourne, Florida passed away suddenly on Sunday, April 14th.

He was born on May 12th, 1963, in Limestone, Maine.  Steve graduated from Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1981.  He went on to study Electrical Engineering at Purdue University in W. Lafayette, Indiana, where he earned Bachelor’s (1985), Master’s (1987), and PhD degrees (1994).  During his undergraduate studies he Co-Op’ed at McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis, MO.  

Steve started his career at Adept Technology in California in 1994, and then moved to Harris Corporation (now L3Harris Technologies) in Melbourne in 1995.  Throughout his 29-year career, he embodied a passion for technology and innovation as a driver for geospatial data processing, algorithm development, video registration, and LiDAR capabilities.  He was an industry-recognized and multiple-patent award winning expert in Light imaging, Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and he contributed to over 30 technical publications. He was made a Technology Fellow at L3Harris in 2021, the highest level of technical achievement.  He received several honors, and engineering awards, including the President’s Award for technical leadership and a Golden Quill.  Steve also was a Group Leader and mentor to numerous early career engineers.

Steve loved rock music, fast cars, family, friends, and date nights with his wife.  He was very proud of his two daughters and all their accomplishments.   He loved playing with his step grandchildren, whom he always called his grandchildren.  He was kind and caring to all he met and had a hug for anyone who needed one.  

He is survived by his wife Barbara, daughters Katherine “Katie” Marie Blask and Jessica “Jessie” Louise Blask, parents Robert and Gabrielle Blask (nee St. Onge), brother John Blask, and nephew Robert “Beau” Blask, stepchildren Tara Fay Holland (Todd Holland), Dana Dodson (Lance Dodson), and Steven Schulz (Brittany Schulz), and step-grandchildren Lauren and Trenton.

A visitation and wake service will be held at 5:30PM on Monday, April 22 at Ascension Catholic Church, 2950 N. Harbor City Blvd in Melbourne, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, April 23 at Ascension at 11:00AM.  A reception will follow immediately at the American Legion, 1795 N Harbor City Blvd., Melbourne. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital—a charity that Steve regularly donated to.