Saturday, November 20, 2010
Dear Shirley and Family:
I just wanted you to know that there is a member of Rotary Club #17 who will not be present at Jack's funeral later today but is still with you in spirit (my wife's neck surgery yesterday requires me to be with her at all times through today).
Jack was a great guy, one whom I admired and respected as a leader in our Club. I was not living in Cincinnati when he was President of our Club and therefore didn't experience his year as Club President in 1982 or as District Governor in 1990. I only got to know him in the 1990s, when he was both a senior leader by virtue of these past leadership experiences and still a very well-involved Rotarian. The Club's recognition of Jack in 2003 as a Wally Emmerling Award recipient, the highest recognition by the Cincinnati Club, was both well-deserved and helpful in my learning about Jack's earlier accomplishments.
I will miss his smile and encouragement, our occasional talks about Toledo, where I first joined Rotary in 1982 or 83 when I worked at the Toledo Museum of Art, and Jack's presence at our annual Past Presidents' Dinner. I am sorry to not be with you today to say these things more directly.
With sympathy and best wishes,
Greg Smith
Past President,
Rotary Club of Cincinnati 2002-03
