Robert Blethen to retire from Times

Robert Blethen, The Seattle Times Co.'s vice president for corporate marketing and a member of the family that has owned the newspaper for 110 years, has announced he will retire in mid-May.

Blethen, 60, suffered a heart attack 15 months ago. "I just need to concentrate on my health," he said Thursday.

He said the ongoing legal turmoil over The Times' joint-operating agreement with The Seattle Post-Intelligencer was not a factor in his decision. Blethen said he intends to stay on the boards of The Seattle Times Co. and the family-controlled Blethen Corp., which owns a majority interest in the newspaper company.

He also said he will remain active in the community. He is a Seattle University regent and serves on the board of ArtsFund, which raises money for the arts.

He also is president of the Pacific Northwest Newspaper Association and plans to continue in that role.

Blethen, a cousin of Times Publisher Frank Blethen, worked summers at the newspaper starting in 1962 and began working full time in 1968. He held positions in advertising and news before moving to the marketing division in the early 1980s.

He has been a vice president for 12 years.

Three of Blethen's four children now work for the company, at its newspapers in Seattle, Yakima and Maine.

Eric Pryne: 206-464-2231 or epryne@seattletimes.com