Pleasant Point – Roland C. Newell Jr., 49, passed away at his home on January 24, 2021. Roland was born in Cambridge, MA on February 2, 1971 to Roland Sr. & Susan (Tomah) Newell. From childhood Roland loved firetrucks, dump trucks and 18 wheelers, a love that lasted a lifetime. As soon as he was old enough, he joined Pleasant Point Fire Department and served more than twenty years, two of which were as chief. He also volunteered as an EMS driver with Pleasant Point Ambulance and worked for many years as a truck driver.
Roland loved to be outside, fourwheeling the back roads, driving on the lakes in the wintertime and walking the dogs at Reversing Falls were some of his favorite pastimes. He loved his children more than life; his family was so important to him.
He was predeceased by his grandmothers, Elizabeth Tomah and Mary Josephine Newell; godfather, Melvin Francis Sr.; uncles Leo Newell and Gilbert Tomah and his friend, who was as close as a brother, James Soctomah.
Roland is survived by his best friend and soulmate, Tanya Smith; his four children, Adam Newell of Pleasant Point, Kristi Longfellow and her fiancé Stephen Leone of Perry, Kendra Stevens and her boyfriend Joshua Harnois of Indian Township and Roland James Newell of Pleasant Point; three grandchildren, Hunter Newell, Matthias Leone and Hunter Harnois; his brother, Greg Newell of Pleasant Point; best friend Angela McPhail of Perry; his aunt and godmother, Barbara Dore and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Visitation will begin at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, January 26th and will be held at Roland’s home, 29 Wekosos Lane, Pleasant Point until Thursday morning. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, January 28th at St. Joseph Church, Eastport, with burial to follow at Pleasant Point Tribal Cemetery. Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home, Calais & Eastport.