Rock of Ages (ROAC) 8-K Rock of Ages Reports 9% Increase in Second

EXHIBIT 99.1
Rock of Ages FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Company Contacts: Laura Plude, CFO (802) 476‑2208 www.rockofages.com	Kurt Swenson Chairman (603) 225-8397

Rock of Ages Reports 9% Increase in Second

Quarter Net Income to $0.21 Per Share

BARRE, VERMONT, August 10, 2010 . . . Rock of Ages Corporation (NASDAQ:ROAC) announced today that net income for the second quarter of 2010 increased 9% to $1,561,000, or $.21 per share, which included costs associated with the exploration of strategic options and shareholder lawsuit expenses of $493,000, or $0.07 per share.  For the second quarter of 2009, net income was $1,433,000, or $.19 per share.  Revenue for this year's second quarter increased 2% to $14,663,000 compared to $14,424,000 for the second quarter of 2009.

Divisional operating income increased 26% to $3,200,000 compared to $2,536,000 last year, and unallocated corporate overhead decreased to $669,000 from $692,000.

Manufacturing revenue for the second quarter of 2010 increased 7% to $8,025,000 compared to $7,512,000 for the second quarter of 2009, as sales of monuments and industrial products both increased.  Operating income in the manufacturing segment increased to $1,562,000 from $1,373,000 a year ago, reflecting the higher revenue and cost reduction steps initiated last year. "We remain confident regarding the performance of our manufacturing operations for 2010 as a whole," said Chief Executive Officer Donald Labonte.

Quarry revenue for the second quarter of 2010 decreased 4% to $6,638,000 compared to $6,912,000 for the second quarter of 2009, but operating income increased 41% to $1,638,000 compared to $1,163,000 last year, reflecting lower operating expenses and higher productivity due to the development and production improvements undertaken in the past year.  "Our quarry development programs have increased our ability to produce and deliver higher quantities of saleable granite.  Demand for our granites remains strong, so we are optimistic about quarry performance going forward," Labonte said.

Six Months Results

For the six months ended July 3, 2010, revenue increased 9% to $22,174,000 from $20,362,000 for the first six months of 2009. Gross profit increased 21%, SG&A was down slightly, and divisional income increased 97% compared to the first half of 2009.

The net loss for the first half of 2010 was $531,000, or $0.07 per share, which included costs associated with the exploration of strategic options and shareholder lawsuit expenses of $493,000, or $0.07 per share.  For the first six months of 2009, the net loss was $1,341,000, or $0.18 per share.

About Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages (www.rockofages.com) is the largest integrated granite quarrier and manufacturer of finished granite memorials and granite blocks for memorial use in North America.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our business or expected events based, in part, on assumptions made by management.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict.  Therefore, actual events, results or outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, including the challenge of successfully implementing our strategic plan intended to enhance our overall profitability; unanticipated overhead or other expenses including possible expenses we may incur in connection with responding to the recently disclosed acquisition proposal from Swenson Granite Company LLC and related matters; and other risks discussed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports including, but not limited to, the risks discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.   Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

(tables attached)

ROCK OF AGES CORPORATION
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)
			Three Months Ended		Six Months Ended
			July 3,	July 4,	July 3,	July 4,
			2010	2009	2010	2009
Net revenue:
	Quarry		$   6,638	$   6,912	$ 10,260	$ 10,036
	Manufacturing		8,025	7,512	11,914	10,326
		Total net revenue	14,663	14,424	22,174	20,362
Gross profit:
	Quarry		2,134	1,746	1,784	1,521
	Manufacturing		2,668	2,431	3,113	2,534
		Total gross profit	4,802	4,177	4,897	4,055
Selling, general and administrative expenses:
	Quarry		496	583	1,089	1,130
	Manufacturing		1,106	1,058	2,035	2,026
		Total SG&A expenses	1,602	1,641	3,124	3,156
Divisional operating income:
	Quarry		1,638	1,163	695	391
	Manufacturing		1,562	1,373	1,078	508
		Total divisional operating income	3,200	2,536	1,773	899
Unallocated corporate overhead			669	692	1,357	1,733
Strategic options and lawsuit expenses			493	--	493	--
Foreign exchange gain			--	--	(84)	--
Effect of pension curtailment			--	--	--	95
Other income, net			(52)	(55)	(145)	(144)
	Income (loss) before interest and income taxes		2,090	1,899	152	(785)
Interest expense, net			279	331	573	537
		Income (loss) before income taxes	1,811	1,568	(421)	(1,322)
Income tax expense			250	135	110	19
		Net income (loss)	$   1,561	$   1,433	$    (531)	$ (1,341)
Net income (loss) per share - basic			$     0.21	$     0.19	$   (0.07)	$   (0.18)
Net income (loss) per share - diluted			$     0.21	$     0.19	$   (0.07)	$   (0.18)
Weighted average common shares outstanding - basic			7,416	7,416	7,416	7,416
Weighted average common shares outstanding -diluted			7,439	7,416	7,416	7,416

ROCK OF AGES CORPORATION
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)
			Jul. 3,	Dec. 31,
Assets			2010	2009
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$   2,200	$   1,713
	Trade receivables, net		8,539	7,241
	Inventories		14,767	15,077
	Other current assets		1,880	1,620
	Assets held for sale		621	758
		Total current assets	28,007	26,409
	Property, plant and equipment, net		30,658	30,559
	Identified intangible assets, net		407	582
	Goodwill		387	387
	Other long-term assets		530	515
		Total assets	$ 59,989	$ 58,452
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
	Borrowings under line of credit		--	$      214
	Current installments of long-term debt		1,289	801
	Current installments of retirement benefits		702	691
	Trade payables		1,642	1,285
	Accrued expenses		1,998	1,264
	Customer deposits		1,176	774
	Deferred tax liabilities		--	236
		Total current liabilities	6,807	5,265
	Long-term debt, excluding current installments		14,335	13,361
	Salary continuation		5,243	5,386
	Accrued pension cost		4,522	4,810
	Deferred salary		1,504	1,504
	Accrued post retirement benefits		1,637	1,622
		Total liabilities	34,048	31,948
Stockholders' equity:
	Preferred stock $0.01 par value. Authorized 2,500,000 shares; none issued		--	--
	Common stock Class A, $0.01 par value, Authorized 30,000,000 shares;
		4,812,342 issued and outstanding at July 3, 2010 and December 31, 2009	48	48
	Common stock Class B, $0.01 par value.  Authorized 15,000,000 shares;
		2,603,721 issued and outstanding at July 3, 2010 and December 31, 2009	26	26
	Additional paid-in capital		65,777	65,751
	Accumulated deficit		(35,277)	(34,746)
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(4,633)	(4,575)
		Total stockholders' equity	25,941	26,504
		Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 59,989	$ 58,452