On August 14th we lost our beloved Rotarian Skip (Malcolm) Smith after a valiant battle against pancreatic cancer. Skip was an active member of the Colchester-Milton Rotary Club.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, September 26th to celebrate Skip's life. Following is a video slideshow and recollections of this spirit who touched all of our lives.
In 1990 when he is working in Burlington for Berkshire Life his boss suggests he join a club. There are representatives from his agency in the Burlington clubs and a new club has been formed in nearby Colchester. He joined when this club is six months old and has been an active member for over 30 years.
Skip's dad, Mac Smith, had been a longtime member and past president of a Rotary Club in New York City.
Skip's dad, Mac Smith, had been a longtime member and past president of a Rotary Club in New York City.
Rotary International is a service organization (non-political, non-religious) whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services and advance goodwill and peace around the world. The vision: "Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves." Skip enjoyed the service part of the organization's mission from raising money for local projects and scholarships to providing food baskets at the holidays to food-insecure families in the community and reading on-on-one with children at the Milton Elementary School.
Skip is a Paul Harris Fellow contributing to Rotary world causes like the eradication of polio. In the club he took his turn at leadership; being president, working on small committees to organize District Conferences for two separate District Governors and developing and implementing the District Simplified Grant Program. He also enjoyed the weekly meetings which allow for strong personal connections in a community of diverse members. Collecting fines in meetings during several yearlong stints as "Sergeant at Arms" gave broad rein to Skip's humor and an opportunity to share important events (both challenging and joyous) in member's lives. Skip shared important news of his family over the years referring to his children and their life events as "Son #1, Son#2, and Son #3." One highlight of his Rotary career is as leader of the Kazoo Band which after hours of rehearsal, well maybe minutes, then warming up with a rendition of "Flight of the Bumblebees" plays "Hail to the Chief" whenever a District Governor visited the club.
In November of 2019, Skip and his wife, Marcia had the opportunity to join a Rotary International Friendship Exchange trip to New Zealand in January. With two month's notice, Skip & Marcia embarked on the biggest travel adventure of their married life. In New Zealand, they were hosted by four Rotary couples (two on the North Island and two on the South Island) for stays of four to eight days duration each. They lived in their homes, traveled with them to local sights, attended Rotary meetings, visited museums, attend Waitangi Day (February 6th national celebration of the indigenous Maori people), watched sheep shearing on a mountainous farm, saw the incredible beauty of the geologically young emerging islands and experience the warmth of the New Zealanders we meet.
The Colchester Milton Rotary Club has lost a wonderful Rotarian and we will always remember his wonderful outlook on life and his sense of humor.