Amanda Cora Hasbrouck Blackman was born on September 17, 1949 in Spokane, Washington. Amanda died peacefully in her sleep April 30, 2021. She was the third child and first daughter of Richard and Cora Wood Hasbrouck. Her father was in the Air Force and she attended many different schools in California, Kansas, and Texas, several of them twice. She graduated from Burkburnett High School, Burkburnett, Texas in 1967 and from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1970, where she studied political science. That summer she married fellow historian Joseph A. Blackman, the love of her life. They moved to the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas where they both began graduate studies and Amanda worked in the university library. Amanda earned her M.A in European Intellectual History in 1976.
Amanda and Joe moved to Tulsa in the summer of 1976 when Joe began teaching history at Tulsa Junior College (now TCC.) Initially Amanda taught at Spartan School of Aeronautics and worked in the OU-Tulsa Medical School Library. In the fall of 1978 Amanda was one of the pioneer faculty teaching humanities at the new TJC Northeast Campus. While at TJC/TCC Amanda was a scholar, professor, mentor, advisor, dear friend, and colleague. Most notably she was advisor to the Phi Theta Kappa scholastic honorary, and President of the TJC/TCC Faculty Association three different times in three different decades. She co-founded the Stay-on-ference and the Academy of Teaching Excellence (ATE.) Amanda chaired or was a member of more committees than anyone can remember. She retired in December 2015 after more than 35 years of service to her students, the college, and her colleagues.
Amanda and Joe had two children, Nick in 1979 and Claire in 1982. She was devoted to her children, always there for school activities. From Nick's multitude of sporting events to Claire's music and band activities, she was their indefatigable and zealous supporter, particularly after Joe died in 1992.
Amanda's life was a tour de force. She did everything with focus, energy, and creativity. She was a fiercely loyal friend, dedicated, innovative and compassionate professor, and caring mother, daughter and sister. Amanda will be long remembered and cherished by those fortunate enough to know her.
Amanda is survived by her children, Nicholas Hasbrouck Blackman and his wife Kari of Katy, Texas and Claire Elizabeth Blackman of Tulsa; by her grandchildren Graham and Caroline Blackman of Katy, Texas; by her siblings Richard (Sharon) Hasbrouck of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Allen (Nancy) Hasbrouck of Huntsville, Alabama and Sue Hasbrouck (Dennis) McCormick of Littleton, Colorado and by numerous nieces and nephews.
A private burial was held in which Amanda was interred next to Joe at Memorial Park Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at the Tulsa Community College PACE on Friday May 28th, 2021 at 10:00 in the morning.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Amanda Blackman Memorial Scholarship Fund, Friends of the Tulsa City-County Library or to the charity of your choice.