It is with great sadness when we loose members of our District 7070 Rotary family this month. Everyone in District 7070 wants to expresses their deepest sympathies to our extended Rotary family.

Tom Fitzsimmons - Rotary Club of Whitby-Sunrise

This message is from Rotary Whitby Sunrise President Rob Morton:

"The Club has tragically lost our icon, Tom Fitzsimmons, who died in an automobile accident in Brooklin on Monday afternoon. He was returning home from a golf game, a sport that he loved to play. Tom has been a part of my life for a very long time, and he was a true character. I share the connection with so many of you and his longtime friends.

This is a massive loss for Karen, his family, his friends, his community, and of course, our Club. Personally, I knew Tom for over 35 years. He was and will always be an irreplaceable Rotarian.”

 

Thomas Hamilton Fitzsimmons V of Whitby, Ontario passed away on Monday June 22, 2020 in an automobile accident North of Whitby, at the age of 75.

Tom is survived by his wife Karen (nee Murdoch), his children Thomas VI (Denise) of East York and Lindsay (Greg) of Toronto, and his grandchildren Robin and Thomas VII both of East York. Tom is also survived by his brothers Robert and Bruce, his sisters Chauncey and Jill, and his many nieces, nephews, and the extended Murdoch family. Tom was predeceased by his parents Thomas IV and Edith, and his brother Richard. He was loved by all and will be missed by all.

As a teacher and principal in the Durham Catholic District School Board, a charter member of the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise, and a key figure in recreational sports organizations in Whitby, Tom has touched the lives of many people young and old, locally and abroad. His legacy will live on in the community. Tom will also be remembered as an avid golfer who loved the camaraderie of the game and the travel.

A public memorial visitation will be held at OSHAWA FUNERAL HOME, 847 King Street West (905-721-1234) on Thursday July 2nd, from 3PM to 7PM and Friday July 3rd, from 3PM to 7PM. Masks are requested and encouraged. A private family service will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Donations may be made to the Rotary Club of Whitby Sunrise.

 

Clem Renouf - President Rotary International

Sir Clem Renouf, the 1978-79 Rotary International president who helped propel Rotary toward its top goal of eradicating polio worldwide, has died at age 99.

Renouf was a member of the Rotary Club of Nambour, Queensland, Australia, for 70 years. He served as RI director, Foundation trustee, district governor, RI committee member and chair, and International Assembly discussion leader.

In early 1979, on a flight home from the Philippines, Renouf read a magazine story about the eradication of smallpox. He wondered if Rotary’s new Health, Hunger and Humanities (3-H) Grants could be used to eliminate another disease. They, for the first time, allowed Rotary projects to be taken on by more than just one club or district.

Renouf consulted with a friend, John Sever, who was a district governor in Maryland, USA, and chief of infectious diseases at the United States National Institutes of Health. Sever happened to be friends with Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, who developed polio vaccines in the 1950s and 1960s. After doing some research, Sever said that polio would be the best disease for Rotary to work on.

“Clem then set his sights on polio eradication as a Rotary worldwide project,” wrote Ray Klinginsmith, 2010-11 Rotary International president, in a tribute to Renouf. In November 1979, the RI Board agreed to set the eradication of polio as a primary goal of the 3-H program.

Renouf was instrumental in raising funds for the early effort. “In order to raise money, Clem asked all the clubs to contribute some cash, which was about $15 per member, for service projects, and the appeal raised the surprising amount of $7 million,” Klinginsmith wrote. “Part of that money was then used to fund the first polio immunization project in the Philippines … The success was real”

In 1985, Rotary launched the PolioPlus program, and it later spearheaded the Global Polio Eradication Initiative with its partners — national governments, the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF. The GPEI continues to pursue worldwide eradication of polio.

Renouf served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II. After the war, he was an accountant and partner in the firm of Renouf and Clarke. He was an associate of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries and Administrators and a fellow of the Australian Society of CPAs, later called CPA Australia. He was also a founder of Sundale Garden Village for the elderly.

Rotary honored Renouf with the PolioPlus Pioneer Award for his extraordinary service to PolioPlus, as well as the Service Above Self Award, Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, and Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award. He was a Rotary Foundation Benefactor and Major Donor and a member of the Paul Harris Society and the Bequest Society.

Klinginsmith described Renouf as quiet but a natural leader.

“Clem was always kind and supportive of younger Rotarians, and he is the one who gave me a chance to travel the Rotary Road,” Klinginsmith wrote. “Rotary would not be at the high point it is today without the improvements made by Clem and his team.”

Click here for a video about Clem.

 

Cam Smith - Rotary Club of Richmond Hill

From The Rotary Club of Richmond Hill - It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Cam Smith. He was the beloved husband of Yvonne (nee Hughes) of 64 years. Cam was a member of the Richmond Hill Rotary Club for 55 Years, who exemplified the Rotary motto of “Service above Self”.

He was well known in the community for his work with Scouts Canada - Central Ontario, the Arena Board, the Library Board, the United Way Greater Toronto and was Chair of the Actifest Festival, OSGA 55+ OSGA 55+ York Region-District #14 , when it was held in Richmond Hill. Cam was the long-time Manager for Scotiabank 's Richmond Hill branch at Yonge and Lorne Streets. After his retirement, he continued working part-time for MagnaInternational.

As a Rotarian, Cam was a Past President, a long term treasurer and Board member. He participated fully in most club projects and along with his wife Yvonne, administered the Rotary scholarship program for local high schools for many years. He was recently received, the first ever, life achievement award from the Richmond Hill Club for outstanding service to Rotary.

During the first Richmond Hill Rotary Club meeting following the death of Cam, the Club held a moment of silence in his memory. When the silence ended, members of the Club spontaneously paid tribute to Cam. Some members recalled how Cam always kept his cool, no matter the situation, others remarked on his love of sports, and others on his genuine interest in them and their families. Still others remembered that Cam was always involved in Club Activities, always ready to help and always there when needed Cam will be sadly missed.

As an expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Richmond Hill Rotary Club Foundation (mail to Richmond Hill Rotary Club, PO Box 30589, 10660 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, ON, L4C3C9, or to the Richmond Hill United Church .