LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Rev. Robert Raymond Blais, O.P., of Louisville, Ky., died Thursday, Sept. 18, at his home.

Fr. Blais served as associate pastor of St. Louis Bertrand from 1984 until his death. Prior to his present assignment, he was the associate chaplain at East Tennessee State from 1969 to 1971, and was the hospital chaplain at St. Catherine in New York City from 1971 to 1984.

Fr. Blais was born on March 16, 1931, in Lewiston. He attended Saints Peter and Paul Elementary School from 1937 to 1944, and attended St. Dominic High School from 1944 to 1948. He graduated from Bates College, which he attended from 1948 to 1951. He was in the U.S. Army National Guard from 1949 to 1952.

He was first professed as a Dominican for the Province of St. Joseph in 1962. He then made his solemn profession in 1965 and was ordained a priest at St. Dominic in Washington, D.C., on June 13, 1968.

He is survived by a nephew, Ronald Bouchard (Joanne); nieces, Janis Bouchard and Arlene Johnson; three great-nieces; one great-nephew; and his Dominican community at St. Louis Bertrand.

He was predeceased by his parents, Alfred and Juliette Lebel Blais; and a sister, Georgette Bouchard.