He was born in Voluntown CT., June 8, 1922, the son of Jeffield LaCasse and Delia (LaChapelle) LaCasse. the youngest of three children.
After graduating from Plainfield High School in 1940, Roland was employed by Electric Boat (Victory Yard) in Groton until called to serve with the US Army, Amphibious Engineers from 1942-1946.
He was in action in the European Theatre with the 1st Engineer Special Brigade. This Brigade was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its D Day landing in Normandy on Utah Beach on June 6, 1944. The 1st Engineer Special Brigade was among the first units to be deployed to the Asia/Pacific Theatre in February 1945 as Germany was nearing total defeat. It participated in the invasion of Okinawa in April 1945. Following the Japanese surrender the Brigade was assigned to Korea to participate in Japan’s surrender of Korea and subsequent US occupation of Korea until discharged in early 1946. Roland’s intense involvement in WWII undoubtedly brought him his lifelong interest in Modern World History.
Subsequent to his service, Roland attended Bryant College on the GI Bill and graduated in 1948. He graduated in 1965 from the Dale Carnegie Course. He was employed by Household International (Thermos Division) in Norwich CT. for twenty-eight years with early retirement in 1983. Roland was deeply involved in the Roman Catholic Church all of his life. He was ordained a Roman Catholic Deacon for the Norwich Diocese by Bishop Daniel P. Reilly in 1986 and assigned to St. Agnes Parish in Niantic where he served well into his nineties. He was certified a Hospital Chaplain through the National Association of Catholic Chaplains in 1990 and served as volunteer Chaplain at L&M Hospital for many years.
He was awarded the Norwich Diocese highest honor, the Patricia-Anne Award by Bishop Daniel A. Hart on June 8, 2002. He was a 4th Degree Honorary Life Member of the Knights of Columbus, Assembly 110, New London CT. and a life member of the VFW, Post 5849, East Lyme, CT.
Roland leaves a niece, Janice Blonder and her husband “nephew Ed” of Salem. He was predeceased by his nephew Louis C. Beaudreau, his grand-nephew Daryl Blonder, and his sisters Aurise Beaudreau and Rita Arnold.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 8th at 11am in St. Agnes Church, 22 Haigh Ave., Niantic. Burial will be private. Donations may be made in his memory to St. Agnes Church Niantic where he leaves many devoted parishioners and friends.
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