Alex Stewart was a ROTARIAN.
The President of Rotary International has recently pointed out
the is a distinct difference between being a. member of a Rotary
Club and being a ROTARIAN The difference being in our attitude
to Rotary motto “SERVICE ABOVE SELF”.
Alex was a true Rotarian and he constantly exhibited that desire
to be of service to someone or some cause. Alex joined Rotary
in 1959, 44 years of contribution to his community. He was involved
in so many aspects of the club activities. He was very interested
in the sports teams that carried the Rotary banner, Having been
a hockey player and a ball player in his earlier days this was
a slot where he could add knowledge to his enthusiast and the
kids that were on his teams love it, Always modest he withdrew
when the plaudits were being handed out. About l974-75 along with
two other, who many will remember Peter Lewis and Mel Morrow we
invited Alex to lunch and by the time he had his dessert we had
cajoled him into to allowing us to present his name to be President
of the Rotary Club of Brockville in the year l976-1977.
One of the great presidents of our club, he had a good year,
and at one time even thanked me for putting the pressure on him
to accept the responsibility. Alex often said there were no big
projects in his year as those who had preceded him had pledge
so much support for the community that all he could do was raise
money. For many years Alex has chaired the Fellowship committee.
He has known who, with a Rotary connection was ill or under the
weather and he has seen to it that cards from the club went to
those members and visits appropriate were made. He also looked*
after “Alex’s Angels”. It is customary to invite some of the widows
of former Rotarians to some of the Club’s social functions. Alex
for years made all these arrangements and looked after these lovely
ladies and I believe it was the ladies themselves who took the
name of "Alex's Angels."
PAUL HARRIS FELLOW
For those who are not: Rotarians: Paul Harris was the founder
of Rotary 100 years ago. A fellowship fund for international social
work was set up in his name some time ago.
A fellowship requires a donation of $1,000 US. It is considered
a very high honour and mark of esteem for a club member to be
honoured with this distinction by his fellow members. Alex was
so honoured by his club in 1988 in recognition of his continuing
efforts to exemplify the motto “SERVICE ABOVE SELF”
….
Alex will be missed
He will be missed by those who knew him in his business
He will be missed by his family
He will be missed by his many friends
He will be missed from our Rotary assemblies
He will be missed **** Because his place will be hard to fill
But we must all remember that he ran a great race and where he
is now
“Yes Alex Everything Is Under Control”
