Roland E Beaulieu

Roland E. Beaulieu died Thursday, April 10th at his home in Orlando, Fl. He was born October 8, 1915 in Lewiston, Maine, and was 98 years old. He was Catholic. Roland’s parents were Ludger and Laura Beaulieu, and he was the oldest of four children. His father died when he was ten years old, and Roland’s formal education was cut short when he had to go to work to help raise his brother and two sisters. In his early years, Mr. Beaulieu owned and operated a small sandwich shop. He later owned a successful barroom in Brunswick, Me., although he, himself, was a teetotaler. Roland became interested in harness horse racing while still a young man and began to learn all he could of the sport, which became his life’s work. He became a trainer and driver of harness horses, successfully competing on the Grand Circuit, and during his long career nurtured many fine horses, some of which became world champions. Among these were Columbia George, Romalie Hanover and Skipper Walt. Mr. Beaulieu operated the Roland Beaulieu Stables, working side-by-side with his wife Blondie, and retired at Ben White Raceway in 1983.

Roland was predeceased by his parents and his wife Harriet “Blondie” who died in 2010, as well as his brother Roger of Auburn, Maine and a sister, Carmen, of Ft. Worth, Texas. He is survived by his daughters Alana “Kitty” Hutter (Robert), Apopka, FL. and Sonia Taylor, Orlando, FL. In addition, he is survived by his sister, Yvette Gousse, Sabattus, Maine, three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Private services will be held at Carey-Hand Cox Parker Funeral Home, 1350 W. Fairbanks Ave.,Winter Park, Fla. at 1:00 PM, April 17, 2014. Interment will be at Highland Memory Gardens, Apopka, Florida. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to your local humane society, the ASPCA or any animal rescue group.