SEEMA RAO
Akron Art Museum
Deputy Director & Chief Experience Officer
A native Northeast Ohioan, she has twenty years of museum experience. As a staff and a consultant, she’s worked with the Cleveland Museum of Art, Toledo Museum of Art, Cincinnati Museum of Art and many others. Sharing collection stories is her favorite part of her job.
Join us as we meet the scholarship recipients and
learn about their accomplishments and future endeavors.
Welcome to The Akron Rotary Club DONNA SKODA, MS., RD., LD
Donna Skoda was sponsored by Cheryl Warren and has presented to our Club as well as many others throughout the area.
She is married to Dennis Skoda, CPA, CGMA who is a Financial Executive. Donna's mother Phyllis, who is 93, also resides with them in the Akron area.
She has spent the past 25 years rescuing Pug dogs and currently has five, Peyton, Beijing, Lucy, Fefei and Barron. She enjoys gardening and cooking her favorite is Italian dishes.
Donna serves as the Health Commissioner for the Summit County Public Health. She has worked in community based public health programs for over 25years. Her current responsibilities include overall management of the health district including the assessment and epidemiological components within the Health District, data and information systems and general strategic planning for the health district in the community. She has served as staff for the Summit 2020: A Quality of Life Project from the beginning and continues to assist with the local management.
Previously, she was employed in Cuyahoga County for 15 years implementing community-based programs in the areas of nutrition and many other areas in public health, the community and within hospital systems. She is a registered, licensed dietitian with a Master’s degree in Public Health and Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University.
Akron Children's Hospital, Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Rob McGregor, and Tony Gutowski, Director of Government Relations spoke at the Stow Rotary Club on April 28, 2021. Their topic was COVID Silver linings: Pediatric Healthcare and Advocacy Opportunities. Dr. McGregor has provided many insights throughout this pandemic and guests at this presentation learned how Akron Children's pivoted during the pandemic and the exciting steps they are taking to further meet the needs of all of our communities.
Summer Camp is around the corner, and Rotary Camp needs our help in getting Camp ready before the Summer Staff, and Campers arrive.
Please come and lend a helping hand to get rid of the winter cob webs. Tasks might include dusting, washing down beds, walls, mattresses, or some light staining. Due to COVID, we will have 2 clean-up days in order to not overcrowd any working space.
Rotary Camp will have buckets and rags for cleaning. Please bring shop-vacs, tall dusters and small step ladders if you have them.
Akron Rotary Camp 4460 Rex Lake Drive Akron, OH 44319
The purpose of Rotary Cares is to show our support for Akron Rotary members and their families when dealing with the loss of a loved one, the hardship of illness and also to celebrate the joy of a new baby, job, marriage or other events in their lives. Please be sure to email me(click here) with any news you would like placed here. Note that information is posted only with permission of the individual(s).
Our sympathies go out to our members who recently lost loved ones
Kimmie Hock's father - Robert J. Hoch
Robert J. Hoch, (Bob) 84, passed into Heaven peacefully with his loving wife and family by his side, April 23, 2021, after a courageous battle with colon cancer. Proceeded in death by his parents Charles F. and Hazel Hoch, brother, Charles Jr., and sister Garnet. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Norma, children Robert Jr., (Terri), Gary (Nancy), Vicki (Dave), Sue (Bill), Mike, (Kimmie) 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and many friends who loved and respected him.
He was a purchasing agent in the rubber industry. He loved his duty in law enforcement, faithfully serving for 50 years. He was a member of many organizations including masonic, crime clinic, FOP and Portage Lakes Eagles.
Bob enjoyed golfing and trips with his loving wife to St. Simon’s island. His greatest accomplishment was his family and spending as much time as he could with them.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s memory to St. Jude’s or Crossroads Hospice Care.
The family wishes to thank the Cooper Cancer Center, Dr. Mahesh, Kelly from Dr. Mahesh’s office, and all of the wonderful staff at Crossroads Hospice Care. A special thanks to Tom and Kelly Martinelli as well as all of our family and friends
In loving memory of Bob, his police service and all those who serve, the family encourages wearing the color blue to the services.
Cremation has already taken place. Family and friends are invited to visit Saturday, May 1, 2021 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Newcomer, Akron Chapel, 131 N. Canton Rd. The memorial service will immediately follow at 3 p.m. at the funeral home. Due to Covid 19 concerns please expect to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.
Tom Knauer's father - Charles L. Knauer
Charles L. “Chuck” Knauer passed away on April 25, 2021 at the age of 92. He was born on March 22, 1929, in Akron, Ohio, the son of Elsie and Norman “Dutch” Knauer. He attended Akron Public Schools and Purdue University and graduated from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. He was awarded three battle stars while serving in the 45th Infantry Division during the Korean War. Chuck had a 40-year career at The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and retired as Manager of Materials, Facilities, and Services.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Theresa (nee Clark), and his children, John (Cindy), Lynn (Ed), Dave (Cathy), Tom (Missy), and his ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, with two more on the way. He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Lisa (Mark), taken too soon by cancer at age 50.
Chuck was a lifelong partner and support to his wife and a role model to his children and grandchildren until the end. He loved gatherings with his family, breakfast and dinner, golf, OSU Buckeye football, Florida vacations, history, cabernet sauvignon, big band music, and his lists and schedules.
The funeral service and Mass will be held at St. Sebastian Church, 476 Mull Avenue, Akron, Ohio, on Monday, May 3, 2021, at 11 am. Family and friends will be received at the church at 10 am. The service will also be live streamed at www.youtube.com/stsebastianparish for those who cannot attend in person. Immediately following services at church, inurnment will take place at Rose Hill Burial Park with military honors.
The family suggests donations to the Honor Flight Network, a charity that transports America’s veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials dedicated to honoring those who have served and sacrificed for our country. Chuck greatly enjoyed the Honor Flight he took in June 2017. Find out more at https://www.honorflight.org/.
Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes and Crematory, Fairlawn Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road Akron, OH 44333
On April 27, 2021, our Club honored students in the career fields of Business and Hospitality/Tourism.
Each student receives a $1,000 scholarship from the Akron Rotary Foundation.
Terry Dalton serves as a member of the Akron Rotary Club Board of Directors and as the Club Secretary and has chaired the Rotary Scholarship Committee for about 10 years. Any members interested in helping are encouraged to reach out to Terry at 330-815-1525 or via email to tdalton1226@gmail.com.
Thank you Akron Rotarian Lorrayne Gervase (photo right) for volunteering to read a story for the APS Virtual Storytelling initiative.
If you are interested, contact Julie Brandle at jbrandle@metisconstruction.com for more information and guidelines.
Julie Brandle, DGND, Assistant Governor - S Summit and Medina Cluster Past President, Rotary Club of Akron, Ohio Cell 330.858.6672 | jbrandle@metisconstruction.com
Plan to participate in Happy Dollars during the Tuesday meetings?
We want to bring even more joy to our meetings and include a photo associated with what you are happy about!!
Simply email it to Cheryl Warren (click here to email her) and put HAPPY DOLLAR PHOTO in the subject line. Photos must be received by 5pm on the Monday prior to the meeting. Those sending photos will be called on first during the meeting to share your happiness as we show the photo!
Even if you don't have a photo, plan to share your joy during our meetings - you will all have a chance to do so as usual after the photos run!!
If you also wish for the information/photo to be included in our newsletter that will go out after our meeting, please indicate this in your email and provide me with a brief description of the reason you are submitting it (such as "So happy that my son Joe has received his Master's Degree from The University of Akron in the field of ABC!). This text will only be used for the newsletter - you will share it at the meeting!!
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Your health and safety is important to us.
Our thoughts are with all of you and our sincere appreciation goes out to every individual working to help keep us safe and healthy.
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