Bill Wells (1941-2007), District 4 SecretaryBill Wells, PhD, currently serving as the District 4 Secretary, died on October 7, two days after suffering a brain hemorrhage. He had been a member since 1991 of Silicon Valley JETS (Japanese-English), was serving as a current officer of both that club and of Secoya Bilingual (Spanish-English), had served as Area F4 Governor during 2003-2004, and had served as a mentor to many Toastmasters and others over the years. Among his many accomplishments in Toastmasters, he helped to start the Laser Sharp Speakers club at Spectra-Physics. Bill earned a doctorate in physics from the University of Florida and later was with Spectra-Physics Lasers for more than 25 years. In the early 1980s he and his family lived in Tokyo, Japan, for four years so that he could establish Spectra-Physics, KK, the first subsidiary of Spectra-Physics in Asia. In 2005, he retired from Spectra-Physics as Vice President of Export Operations. Besides enjoying such activities as tennis and skiing, Bill enjoyed collecting hats from the many places that he had visited around the world. One of his speeches was "Friends Around the World", during which he would change hats and lead the audience in a drinking toast for a particular location. Bill is survived by his wife, three children, five grandchildren, and a brother.
According to Bill's daughter, "One of Bill's dreams was to encourage the study of foreign culture
through language. He felt that one-on-one interpersonal communication could lead to greater global
understanding." Many Toastmasters have fond memories of Bill. From Fumie Piontkowski, current
Division F Governor, "When I close my eyes, I see Will's smile........Through SVJETS and District
leadership this year, I have gotten to know him quite well. I personally received very encouraging
comments from him. He was always providing us great support and sharing his experience, wisdom and
wit.........He was such a wonderful, kind and thoughtful person." And from Immediate Past District
Governor Ken Cawley, Bill "was one of those rare people who did everything in terms of what he
could do for others instead of what it would do for him."
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Orion W. Cowles Jr. was the husband of 2003-2004 District 4 Governor Shirley Farrell-Cowles. He passed away peacefully on May 12, 2006, in Kaiser Hospital, Santa Clara, after a long illness. He is also survived by 4 children and 5 grandchildren.
He was born in Spokane, Washington, and earned a B.S. degree from the University of Oregon. He spent many years in Real Estate in Santa Clara County.
Terry McCann (1934-2006), 26 years as theToastmasters International Executive Director Terry McCann, the Toastmasters International Executive Director during 1975-2001, died on June 7 at his home in Southern California, after being in a coma for a week. Terry came in 1975 to an organization with declining membership that was struggling to survive. When he left in 2001 it was financially sound, was more than double in size, and had become known world-wide for communication and leadership training. Terry, known formally as Terrence J. McCann, grew up in Chicago, Illinois. He attended the University of Iowa, because "it had Dave McCuskey, a coach I knew could help me become the best wrestler in the world," according to an article by Suzanne Frey in the July 2001 The Toastmaster magazine. Terry did so well that he won the Olympic gold medal in Wrestling Freestyle, in the 52 - 57kg (bantamweight) division, at the 1960 games in Rome. Also according to the 2001 article, Terry credited his Toastmasters skills with enabling him to become an advertising account executive. In Minneapolis, Minnesota, he handled the Wheaties cereal account for 3 years. He later earned an MBA degree in Marketing from Loyola University in Chicago, and worked for Lions International before joining Toastmasters. Terry was one of the founders of the United States Wrestling Federation, and later served two terms as its president. In 1977, he became a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, which is in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife, Lucille. As of 2001 they had 7 children and 18 grandchildren.
According to Toastmasters International: |
Orion W. Cowles Jr. was the husband of 2003-2004 District 4 Governor Shirley Farrell-Cowles. He passed away peacefully on May 12, 2006, in Kaiser Hospital, Santa Clara, after a long illness. He is also survived by 4 children and 5 grandchildren.
He was born in Spokane, Washington, and earned a B.S. degree from the University of Oregon. He spent many years in Real Estate in Santa Clara County.
Vit Eckersdorf, DTM (1934-2006)District 4 Governor 1973-1974 and 1983, International Director 1976-1978  Vit Eckersdorf, DTM, PID, died of a heart attack on April 16, 2006, while on a cruise to Tasmania, Australia. Besides serving 1-1/2 terms as District 4 Governor, and a 2-year term as International Director representing our Region II, Vit also received 2 Presidential Citations from Toastmasters International Presidents. In 1975, Toastmasters International President John Diaz presented Vit with his first Presidential Citation, for developing an improved District Progress Report. According to an article in the Fall 1975 The Fourcaster by Guy Ferry, DTM, PID, President Diaz presented the citation "To an individual, who, rather than complain about a system, works to improve it." According to the article, this was the first Presidential Citation presented to a District 4 Toastmaster. In 1983, Toastmasters International President William O. Miller presented Vit with his second Presidential Citation, for accepting appointment as District 4 Governor halfway through the 1982-1983 year (after the resignation of then-Governor Kathryn Kennedy) and leading District 4 to become a Distinguished District. According to an article in the Winter 1983-1984 The Fourcaster by Guy Ferry, President Miller also presented Vit with a plaque "honoring his leadership achievement." Vit was born in Lodz, Poland, and during the 1930s and 1940s moved with his family to Austria, and then to Argentina after World War II. In 1960 he moved to Los Angeles, and in 1962 to San Francisco. He later was with Bofors Lithographics for 30 years, including serving as Board treasurer and second vice president. Among his many activities, he was an 18-year member of the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international gastronomic society founded in Paris in 1950; the San Mateo Chamber of Commerce; and the Grand Jurors Association. He also served on the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center Committee. He is survived by his wife, Anna; 3 children and their spouses; and 7 grandchildren. |
Samme Jacobson, DTM, passed away on January 7th, 2006. She joined her husband Orlin, DTM. Both were Toastmasters for 30 years. Samme and Orlin were members of Sequoia Toastmasters and Cupertino Toastmasters. See the San Jose Mercury News obituary notices for January 17 for their column on Samme.
Services were held at Faith Lutheran Church on Saturday January 21st in Los Gatos. Memorial donations may be sent to Faith Lutheran or Santa Clara G.S. Council.
Roz Dolling (1932-2004)The Toastmasters organization lost a valuable member when Roz Dolling, charter member of High Spirits, passed away in October. She will not only be missed by her family but by the members of High Spirits, as well as the many District 4 Toastmasters who came to know her throughout the years she served with dignity, circumspection and assiduity. Roz worked in the Jewish theater as a youngster. Therefore, 24 years ago, the thespian bug was once again awakened in her when a Toastmasters club was formed in the church she attended. After all, there is not much difference between acting on the stage and speaking – both are performed in front of an audience. Roz remained a charter member of High Spirits until her demise. As a member and officer, she endeavored to maintain the high standards of the club set forth by its first president. Roz consistently won awards for best speaker in the club; she was a natural born orator. She also won the Golden Quill award for the best club newsletter internationally. Her literary skills matched her oratory skills. She was also a great story teller – very bright, talented and witty. Roz was a popular and loved member of the High Spirits Toastmaster club. We will always remember her for her vivacious personality, cunning wit and friendly smile.
— Lyn April Statten, DTM
Roz Dolling -- Even the name rings of interest and allure! Anyone here in a local Toastmasters group would know Roz was the heartbeat, the ambassador, the minister of all information for Toastmasters International. I reconnected with Roz just about a year ago. I visited her and discovered she loved sushi. We would go to various sushi restaurants until we discovered Tokyo Star which easily became our favorite. From the time I picked Roz up until I dropped her off we were always talking, catching up and sharing beliefs, opinions of what’s going on this world. What I discovered from our personal sharing was we had much in common. We talked politics, religious beliefs and her favorite, family. We shared about our boys (now adults), their marriages. Roz was so proud of her two boys, their successes in their chosen jobs, the lovely ladies they had married. She told me a mother’s goal is to see their children happy, content and be contributors to the betterment of life to the people around them. Roz was my teacher, my buddy, my sister, my mother - I learned from her the daily lessons of compassion and always remember to be gracious. When you are gracious in a situation instead of obstinate, snooty, or rude, you are nurturing your heart and soul and building love for yourself and giving love to the people you come in contact with. Roz, thank you isn’t enough; I’ll miss your always welcoming and friendly “hello.” I’ll see you in a little while.
— Mitchell Trott, CTM
In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America in the name of Roslyn Dolling. Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America 386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor New York, NY 10016 |
