Roland E. Blais

TROY -- Roland E. Blais, 85, who was managing editor of the Stamford Advocate in 1978 when the newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting, died Friday, November 11 in Troy, N.Y. A longtime resident of Stamford, he was predeceased in 2010 by his wife of 57 years, Margaret Smith Blais. Born April 20, 1926 in New London, Connecticut, he was the son of the late Louis J. and Dorilla (Corriveau) Blais. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served in both World War II and the Korean War. He was a lifelong newspaperman, well-known in Stamford in the 1960s and 1970s, first as a political reporter and columnist and later as the Advocate's managing editor and finally editor-in-chief. An early supporter of digital technology in the newspaper industry, he planned and oversaw the newspaper's transition from traditional "hot type" to computer-driven "cold type" at a time when many newspaper executives were resisting such changes. He hired and mentored Advocate reporter Anthony R. Dolan, whose work as an investigative reporter won a Pulitzer Prize and who left the newspaper to become chief speech writer for President Ronald Reagan during President Reagan's entire eight-year term. After leaving the Advocate, Mr. Blais spent the remainder of his career in executive editorial positions at the Troy Record in Troy, N.Y.
He enjoyed a long and lively retirement surrounded by family at his home in West Sand Lake, N.Y. He is survived by his daughters, Deborah Cavanaugh of Princetown, N.Y. and Katherine Blais of West Sand Lake, N.Y.; his son, Christopher R. Blais of West Sand Lake, N.Y.; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held 4 pm on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at Immanuel Church, 1955 Ferndale Rd. Castleton, NY. 12033
Memorial contributions may be made to the Jimmy Fund, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226 ATTN: Contribution Services.