The company said in a statement via LinkedIn that Blackie was a "gentle soul and great mentor for all."
Blackie started his career at Dunlop, Merseyside, in 1964 before moving to Ireland in 1979 and joining the Regional Technical College, AIT, now TUS.
It was the early stages of the Plastics Engineering course when he joined, with the staff of Dr. John Robinson, Dave Beddard, Dr. Dick Devlin and Dr. Alan Brazier. Paul was involved in lecturing students on the National Certificate & National Diploma courses and the GPRI (Graduate of the Plastics and Rubber Institute), which was an honours equivalent degree.
In 1986 Blackie graduated from Trinity College with a Master of Science and subsequently supervised student’s research to both Masters and PhD level for many years and, as Senior Polymer Lecturer, instructed over 700 polymer students before his retirement in 2011.
In the early days of the B.Eng. (Polymer Engineering) he also oversaw the placement of students for industrial placements throughout Ireland and abroad, including at GE Plastic in Holland, McKechnie Plastics Scotland, Kingspan in Wales, ICBT Wageningen Holland and many, many more.
He was actively involved in The Plastics & Rubber Institute, followed, in the early 1990s, by the Institute of Materials (Ireland South) and, most recently, The Irish Polymer Group, having served over the years as a Committee Member, Chairman and Hon. Secretary.
The company continued: "Paul has left a lasting legacy on all who knew him. He was a huge influence on anyone who studied polymers in Athlone and, in April 1995, was the first person to be awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Institute of Materials, for his outstanding contribution to the group and the Plastics Industry as a whole.
"He maintained constant contact with many of his former students, mentoring and guiding them as they forged a career. His knowledge of the Plastics Industry in Ireland has been invaluable to many of us on many an occasion.
"Outside of work Blackie was extremely kind and charitable, being involved in many institutions for the most needy and underprivileged in our society. A model citizen and a very calming influence; a mentor, an educator, and much more to so many of us. The entire polymer community owes him sincere gratitude for his significant contributions, both through his academic efforts and unwavering commitment toward the Irish polymer industry."
The staff at Irish Polymer Group concluded: "We extend our sincere condolences to Paul’s wife Anne, his daughters Sarah, Fiona and Caitriona and to his extended family and many friends."
