Richard (Dick) Earne was a pillar of the Grand Island Rotary Club and of our district.To those of you who served as president during Dick's year as governor (2006 - 2007), do you remember the little rocks he gave out during his club visits?
DG Dick was remarking on the effect a person can have on the world through Rotary service, like the ripples spreading across a pond from even a small, tossed stone.
With help from the Grand Island club, the Richard Earne Reading Garden has been established at the Grand Island Library.
Dick envisioned the creation of this garden to fulfill his goal of extending the usable library space to include a comfortable outdoor seating area for patrons to enjoy.
The garden will be dedicated on Wednesday, May 13th at 5:00 PM.
Location: Grand Island Memorial Library, 1715 Bedell Rd, Grand Island, NY 14072
For a wonderful tribute to Dick from his dear friend and fellow Grand Island Rotarian, the late Henry Kammerer, please "read more".
re. Richard Earne (1943 – 2022), Central to Grand Island Rotary – My thoughts:
Dick Earne, fellow Cornellian, fellow Grand Islander, fellow Rotarian. Sometimes a difficult soul, always hard working and devoted to the greater good that Rotary, in its service, expressed to the world.
Joined Grand Island Rotary, and thus the larger world of Rotary International also: December 1978 (thus a Member for 44 years)
President of Grand Island Rotary: 1990 – 91, 2018 – 19, 2019 – 20
District Governor, Rotary District 7090, 2006 – 07
Devoted advocate for the Early Act program of Rotary for elementary-aged youth and a leader in raising awareness, and funds, for the Rotary Foundation, where he was a nine-times over Paul Harris Fellow.
Whether he was picking up trash along Beaver Island Parkway, driving a Ukraine Open World team around, ringing the Bell or restocking food for Salvation Army, cleaning, scrubbing, moving furniture for Habitat For Humanity or Afghan refugee new arrivals… he was always THERE. Beyond his Temple devotion, he made Rotary service to mankind a center of his life.
We are the better for having been in his presence and will forever use Dick Earne as an example of a full life of SERVICE.
Hank Kammerer, a fellow Rotarian and his friend