Blaise Anthony Richard

Blaise Anthony Richard- son, brother, friend, talented artist and CSKT Tribal Member—died on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at his home in Polson, MT. He was 56 years old.

Blaise was born on March 8, 1967, in San Francisco, California to Charles Edward Richard II and Donna Marie Languille. Blaise was a gifted student, artist, and loved music, his pets, and traveling. He spent a year at school in Torremolinos, Spain and went on to Boston University where he graduated with his bachelor’s in business and Japanese Language. Blaise was described as brilliant and gifted by his professors and teachers all his life. Later, he developed a passion for hair color and design and became a successful cosmetologist working in top salons in San Francisco, Mill Valley, and San Rafael, CA. He had a vast knowledge of world geography, politics, history, with an incandescent, irreverent, hilarious wit and was an amazing conversationalist. Not only was he a beautiful soul on the inside, but he was also incredibly handsome and photogenic. He enjoyed reading about esoteric subjects and loved John Waters and John Hughes films.

Blaise had many deep, lifelong friendships and delighted in working with his clients, customers, and peers, and could remember conversations with people and pick up the threads each time he saw them in his salons and at work. He was loyal, caring, and many would remark about how he lifted their spirits each time they saw him. He often delighted his loved ones with thoughtful and special gifts. Nothing can describe how much we all will miss him.

He was blessed with both passion and an intense sense of empathy with a loving and kind spirit. Blaise suffered from lifelong mental health problems and turned to substances to manage intense inner turmoil, loneliness, and found it impossible this time to bounce back from a series of heartaches and setbacks. He chose to leave this earth on his own terms. He is survived by his parents Charles, Nancy, and Donna; his older sister, Donna; younger brothers, Jean-Paul and Zack; and younger sisters, Angel and Sarah. He is predeceased by his eldest brother, Charles, paternal and maternal grandparents and leaves behind his beloved nieces, Adrienne, Liz, Brooke, and Mila and nephews Brandon and Donaven. If you or a loved one suffers from substance or mental health disorders, please call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.