Blois Construction co-founder, political activist Jean Blois dies at 96
Jean Williamson Blois, one of the leading women in business and politics on the South Coast, died March 22 at age 96.
Blois was a co-founder of the political movement that led to the successful effort to incorporate the City of Goleta. She served on its first city council and was instrumental in guiding Goleta in its earliest days.
In business, she and her late husband Bob founded Blois Construction, a firm that today is one of the largest regional companies with expertise in water and flood control projects. It also has provided countless hours of donated services CSU Channel Islands.
Blois, who graduated from UC Berkeley, was a founding member of the Community West Bancshares board, a relatively rare example of a woman serving in that capacity. Although she retired in 2021, she continued on the bank’s roster as an emeritus member.
She was known for being an advocate for small business and for speaking her mind, something her two sons Jim and Steve reminded the Business Times of on several occasions. She had a keen eye for detail and never lost her sense of humor.
According to her son Jim, before her death, she left a file called “Jean Blois – Rest In Peace” with instructions to the family on how to handle her affairs.
