Raoul Jolin

BROOKSVILLE, FL — Raoul Jolin, 84, of Brooksville, Fla., and formerly of Dixville Notch, died Monday, May 19, 2014, at the hospice facility in Brooksville, due to complications after having had a minor heart attack. He was born in St. Gedeon de Frontenac, Québec, on Nov. 1, 1929, the son of Joseph and Marie Louise Jolin. He spent his early years growing up on a farm in Compton, Que., and then moved on to become both a carpenter and brick layer. When he was 22 years old, he married Simonne Roy, and four years later moved his family to Berlin, NH, and started working for Richards and Son as their foreman. This led to a number of construction projects in the North Country, and finally to The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in Dixville. It was there that Neil Tillotson realized that he had found the right person to take over as the Maintenance Superintendent of not only the hotel, but also of the grounds (15,000 acres). Not too long after that, it was apparent to Neil that he had four people who he could trust to take over, and take The Balsams to the grandeur that he had always envisioned. He offered Raoul, Warren Pearson, Steve Barba, and Chef Phil Learned the opportunity to become managing partners, which they readily accepted. For the next 32 years, Raoul, along with his managing partners, was instrumental in making the necessary changes and updates necessary to keep The Balsams alive and thriving, even during weak economic times. Raoul and Simonne decided that they would move to Florida in 2001 for their retirement, as they had spent a number of prior vacations, staying both on the east and west coast. Brooksville fit that bill with both great weather and great golf. Raoul is survived by his wife Simonne, his four children: Yvan and wife Patricia of Charlotte, N.C., Roger and wife Belinda of Stratford, NH, Ronald and wife Patti of Robbinsdale, Minn., and Sylvie and husband Robert Weber of Colebrook, NH; three brothers, Andre Jolin of Sherbrooke, Que., Maurice and wife Cecile of Hudson, NH, Nil and wife Carmen of Bury, Que., four sisters Irene Marquis, Monique and husband Patrick Turcotte, Lucille Jolin all of Sherbrooke, Que., and Denise and Jean Guy Lemay, of Asbestos, Que.; 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by a sister, Therese Masson, and a grandson, Charles Weber. Memorial calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook, NH. A memorial Mass will be held on Wednesday, May 28, at 11 a.m. at St. Albert’s Catholic Church in West Stewartstown, NH, with The Rev. Craig Cheney as celebrant. An interment will occur at a later date at the Round Top Cemetery in Dixville Notch. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mr. Jolin may be made to the American Heart Association, 2 Wall St., Manchester, NH 03101; or online at www.heart.org. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home, Colebrook, NH.

Raoul Jolin

November 1, 1929 - May 19, 2014