Memorial service held for Professor Edward J. Blakely, internationally recognized planning and policy expert.

Leaders from academia, government, and the business community gathered at the University of California, Riverside on February 7 to honor the life and legacy of Professor Edward James Blakely. The memorial service was hosted by Ali Sahabi, Chief Executive Officer/President of Optimum Group LLC, who described Blakely as a mentor.

Tributes and career focus

Robert J. Nava, Vice President emeritus at California State University San Bernardino, served as Master of Ceremonies. Attorney Jeffrey J. Thomas, special assistant to Dr. Blakely, praised Blakely’s leadership and compassion in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

Born and raised in San Bernardino, Blakely became one of the first Black graduates of UC Riverside. He served in the United States Air Force and worked in foreign service in Washington, D.C., before transitioning to academia. He was known for pioneering work at the intersection of poverty, inequality, and urban development, and his books—Planning Local Economic Development and Separate Societies: Poverty and Inequality in the U.S. (both 1992)—helped shape policy debates and informed generations of planners.

Policy and disaster recovery work

Blakely’s later scholarship included Fortress America (Brookings, 2002), which received international acclaim and remains one of the most cited texts in urban planning. Beyond research, he advised governments on urban policy, particularly following natural disasters.

Most notably, he served as Recovery Director in New Orleans for two years following Hurricane Katrina, providing expertise aimed at rebuilding resilient communities. Thomas said that in New Orleans, the post-Katrina investments “imagined and begun under his lead” continue to benefit the city.

Speakers also noted Blakely’s advisory roles after major disasters internationally, including work with the governments of Japan, Turkey, Chile, Honduras, and Indonesia. His public service included advising the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and three U.S. presidential administrations. He later held public policy positions in Sydney, Australia, including District Commissioner for the Greater Sydney Commission and Acting Commissioner on the New South Wales Land and Environment Court.

Academic leadership and mentorship

Blakely held the title of Emeritus Professor of Urban Planning at the University of California, Berkeley. Robert Cervero, Professor Emeritus of City & Regional Planning at UC Berkeley, said Blakely was beloved by students for challenging them intellectually while bringing warmth and compassion to the classroom.

At the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Blakely served as Dean of the School of Urban and Regional Planning. Dowell Myers, Professor of Planning and Public Policy at USC, described Blakely as an optimistic and far-sighted urban policy planner who helped others imagine pathways to solutions. Ali Sahabi said Blakely’s role as Chairman of the Advisory Board for Dos Lagos had a significant impact on his career and shaped approaches to principled, inclusive growth.

Blakely also served as Dean of the Milano Graduate School of Public Policy at The New School in New York and held a Visiting Professorship in Urban Climate Change at Università IUAV di Venezia. Late in his career, he chaired the Advisory Board of the University of California Disaster Resilience Network (UCDRN), working to build a unified approach to disasters and “polycrises,” according to David D. Oglesby, Professor of Geophysics at UC Riverside.

Education, recognition, and personal details

Blakely earned his BA from UC Riverside, an MA in Latin American history from UC Berkeley, and a PhD in education and management from UCLA. At Riverside, he was a four-sport athlete for the Highlanders and earned UC Riverside Athlete of the Year honors in 1959. In later years, he enjoyed refereeing American-style football games in Australia.

He was recognized by UN Habitat for contributions to social justice and sustainable planning in disaster recovery in 2012. Speakers also highlighted his ability to explain complex issues plainly and his role in helping formulate a UC systemwide educational initiative to train future leaders to address foundational problems.

Death and memorial arrangements

Dr. Blakely died at home in Sydney, Australia, on Sept. 6, 2025. He was 87 years old. He is survived by his wife, Maaike; daughters, Pieta (Evan) and Brette (Luke); granddaughters, Cobi and Jamie; brother, Warren; and many friends and protégés around the world.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, February 7 at the UC Riverside Alumni Center. Donations may be made in memory of Dr. Edward J. Blakely to UC Riverside African American Student Programs.