It is always with great sadness when we loose members of our District 7070 Rotary family. Everyone in District 7070 wants to expresses their deepest sympathies to our extended Rotary family. Please send your notices to Newsletter Editor Dave Andrews at dave.f.andrews99@gmail.com .....
DAVE MORRISON - ROTARY CLUB OF RICHMOND HILL
Dave Morrison died peacefully on Saturday, January 15th, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. He was just shy of his 80th birthday. Dave was predeceased by his first wife Gail, He is mourned by his wife Tina, his children Jennifer (Joe), Michael (Krista) and Katherine (Mark), his step children Andrew (Julie) and Shana (Bill), eleven (11) grandchildren, and his brother Jim and sister Pat (Tom).
Dave had a long, vibrant career at IBM Canada. After retirement, he got involved with many different start-up companies.
Dave was a dedicated member of Rotary International (Rotary Newmarket, Richmond Hill Rotary and Rotary Club of Playa Coronado - People of Action), with a deep commitment to those in need, especially children. Dave tirelessly supported the RACHEL Project (Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education and Learning) to provide children in remote areas of Panama with an education to permit them a better future. He also was a proponent of the Panama Water Project, which delivered water to poor, remote villages suffering from draught. He also raised funds for Nutre Hogar Nacional, a charity whose mission is to support a collection of medical care and recuperation centers for malnourished children in Panama. Dave’s dedication to children is still an inspiration to us all!
If you have an interest in making a donation to one of Dave’s charities, please etransfer funds to rotarianjdt@gmail.com and specify the charity of your choice.
We will miss you Dave.
2002-03 Rotary International President Bhichai Rattakul
Bhichai Rattakul, a past Rotary International president, died on 28 February. He was 95. Rattakul, who was Rotary’s first president from Thailand, achieved success in business and government. Read more about his accomplishments. (see: https://my.rotary.org/.../2002-03-rotary-international... )
Rattakul, who was Rotary’s first president from Thailand, achieved success in business and government. Known for his modesty, integrity, and diplomatic skills, he rose from humble beginnings, which shaped his outlook on life. He joined Rotary in 1958 as a charter member of the Rotary Club of Dhonburi, Thailand’s second club and the first to conduct its business in Thai. As 2002-03 RI president, Rattakul encouraged Rotary members to determine their own goals and programs, saying that grassroots members know what’s best for their own clubs and communities.
Prior to becoming RI president, Rattakul had a distinguished career in government, serving as Thailand’s deputy prime minister twice, from 1983 to 1990 and from 1997 to 2000, and as foreign minister. He was a member of the Thai parliament for nine terms and held the posts of speaker of the House of Representatives and president of the National Assembly. He retired from government in 2000.
During his years in politics, he served as head of Thailand’s Democratic Party. He led a number of Thai delegations to the United Nations, and he was decorated by heads of state including the king of Thailand, the emperor of Japan, and presidents of Austria, Italy, Korea, Nicaragua, the Philippines, and Venezuela. He held honorary degrees in law and political science from universities in Korea, Thailand, and the United States.
As chair of the organizing committee for the 13th Asian Games in 1998, Rattakul served as a mediator, bringing together several fractious groups to organize and host the competition in Bangkok. In recognition, the International Olympic Committee honored him with the Olympic Order, the committee’s highest honor for individuals, in 1999.
Rattakul, who was the president of a pharmaceuticals manufacturing company in Bangkok, also served as president of the Thai Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers Association for more than 10 years.
Rattakul and his wife, Charoye, were Rotary Foundation Major Donors and Benefactors. He received the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Award. He is survived by two sons and one daughter.