John Edward Youngblood

John Edward “Ed” Youngblood
Sept. 28, 1943-March 10, 2024

John Edward (Ed) Youngblood, 80, of Inverness FL, passed away on Sunday, March 10, 2024, peacefully at VITAS Hospice house with his partner of 12 years, Deborah Selsavage, by his side.

John Edward (Ed) Youngblood was born in Muskogee, OK on September 28, 1943; the second Son of Wayne and Ruth Elizabeth Youngblood, who preceded him in death. Ed is survived by his sons Franz Ruben of Wisconsin and John Christian of Ohio, his former wife Margaret Pernalete Youngblood, his brother William Youngblood and sister-in-law Linda Youngblood, niece, Karen Stinneford, and nephew David Youngblood, his committed partner Debbie Selsavage, and his wonderful rescue cat “Riley”.

Ed’s mother, Ruth and Debbie’s husband, Albert, had both passed from Alzheimer’s. Debbie and Ed's life together focused upon helping others prepare for and cope with the journey of dementia. Coping with Dementia, LLC and the not-for-profit Dementia Education are institutional manifestations from their efforts.

Ed was gifted with excellent verbal and visual communication skills. He was also a visionary who thrived on challenging opportunities. At 14, he prepared newspaper marketing materials for Durnell’s Department Store in Muskogee. His income bought him a beautiful, black 1953 Studebaker with a red-leather interior, and a small, well-used Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
 
The motorcycle was possibly a foreshadow for most of Ed’s life, riding for more than 60 years and becoming a motorcycle historian. While earning a bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing at Oklahoma State University, Ed worked on weekends in a motorcycle repair shop, giving him respite from the books and some cash. Ed’s master’s degree was earned in English literature at the University of Ohio, Athens.

Youngblood explained his feelings on the importance of remembering and appreciating motorcycling’s heritage:
“I do not see history as just a thing in the past that happened some time ago,” he said. “I see history as an understanding of who we are and how we got where we are. When any culture, nation or industry faces a crisis, those that have the will to survive are the ones that have a deep understanding and appreciation of who they are and where they came from. That’s what gives us an understanding of our own value and gives us a will to fight for what we are and what we believe in.”

He left academics to take over the marketing and communication resources for a regional motorcycle magazine. The magazine’s rapid subscription growth was noted by the American Motorcycle Association who, within the year, recruited Ed to direct their marketing and communication division.    When an unanticipated change in AMA leadership emerged, the AMA Board unanimously tapped Ed to take over the Directorship. After leaving the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) he became a founding board member of the Antique Motorcycle Foundation, which is a sister organization to the Antique Motorcycle Club of America.

Ed Youngblood had a 30-year career in non-profit management, both in the United States and with an international NGO in Geneva, Switzerland. Upon retirement in 1999, he founded his own consulting and communications company, Motohistory.net, writing nine published histories and biographies and consulting for 13 museums and galleries in motorcycle exhibits, including the Guggenheim Museums in New York and Bilbao, Spain. His knowledge and leadership of this industry is and will be deeply missed. In 2013, he closed his consulting company and in 2014 partnered with Debbie Selsavage to create Coping with Dementia LLC, which he served on a voluntary basis in communications, marketing, branding, and business strategy.

Ed is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and a PAC certified consultant. He recently founded a new non-profit called Dementia Education, Inc. It’s first projects is publication of “A Handbook for Dementia-Friendly Congregations,” and “Dementia and Firearm Safety.” Most recent publication is “A First Responder’s Guide to Dementia”, along with several other books on dementia.

Some of the things Ed will be remembered for are his love for motorcycles, cars, animals, listening to good stories, good movies, music, writing, creating and dining at waffle house. He was always looking for an opportunity to work and build relationships.

“He was working until the very end,” Debbie said. “When he entered the care facility last week, he told me he wanted to bring two things, his laptop and a little model of his BMW motorcycle.”

Youngblood left a legacy in several fields and a lasting impression to those lucky enough to have known him.

A celebration of life will be planned for a future time and place. Arrangements are under the direction of Heinz Funeral Home and Cremation of Inverness, FL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials or donations can be made in his name to Coping with Dementia LLC to continue their services and to Dementia Education Inc. at PO Box 143, Inverness, FL 34451.

A couple of quotes came to mind about Ed:
Mahatma Gandhi's: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

George Benard Shaw's : Some people see things as they are and say, ‘Why? I dream things that never were and say, “Why not?"

Please visit www.heinzfh.com to submit your online condolences about Ed.