Dan Blanchette graduated from Berlin High in 1969 where he was a standout athlete in three sports track, football, and basketball. In football, he was a four-year letterman playing as a halfback, defensive back, and kick returner utilizing his speed for all three positions. During his junior year, he led the team in scoring and was a 1st team All-Northwest Conference selection. As a senior, he again was a 1st team All-Northwest Conference selection as a halfback.

It was in track where Dan really stood out with his accomplishments while at Berlin. He was a four-year letterman leaving after graduation with four records that still stand 46 years later. In 1966 he had a 5th place finish in the Class M 100m dash. During the 1967 season Class M championships, he finished 2nd in the broad jump, 2nd in the long jump, and 5th in the 100m dash. That same year he had a 1st place finish in the Junior Chamber of Commerce State Track meet in both the 100m and 200m dash qualifying for the National meet at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. During the 1968 season, Class M meet he finished 2nd in the 220-yard dash and 3rd in both the long jump and 100-yard dash. At the Wesleyan College summer junior track meet that year he was a member of the 1st place 440m relay team. During his 1969 season, he was the Class M State champion in the 220m dash with a time of 22.7 seconds and the long jump with a leap of 22’8” which was a new state record with the old one having stood for 21 years.

Dan set the following Berlin High track records that stand to this day 46 years later. 100m dash- 11.8 seconds, 200m dash- 22.8 seconds, long jump- 22’8”, and triple jump- 43’9”.

In 1974 Dan was part of the first class hired by the State of Connecticut Capital Police and retired in 1994 after 20 years of public service. He has two sons, Thomas and his wife Amy and granddaughters Ava and Emily of Bristol and Daniel Jr. of New York City. Dan resides in Fort Myers, Florida.