Stanford J. Newman, 90; Helped Build Family Cigar Business Into World Player

Stanford J. Newman, 90, who helped build his father’s J.C. Newman Cigar Co. into an internationally recognized cigar maker, died Thursday, two days after suffering a heart attack at his office in Tampa, Fla.

Newman, a native of Cleveland, was 18 when he began work in the cigar business started by his Hungarian immigrant father. He later took over the company, moving it to the Ybor City neighborhood in Tampa, where the family became one of the largest makers and distributors of cigars, including those made by Carlos Fuente, his business partner in the Dominican Republic.

The company suffered a downturn after the start of the U.S. embargo on trade with Cuba but flourished in the 1970s with its Cuesta-Rey 95 offering, which became a top-selling premium cigar in the U.S.

Newman handed control of the company to his sons but kept the title of chairman and continued to work five days a week. He spent the last few weeks advising his sons on how to run the business if the ailing Fidel Castro dies and the trade embargo is lifted.

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Joyce Blair, 73, a British actress who began her performing career as a child during World War II and later established a song-and-dance team with her brother Lionel Blair, died Saturday of cancer at her Santa Monica home.