The Lions Roar...serious and fun information from the Westerly Lions Club

Longtime Westerly Lion A. Leo DeGroff passes away

January 6th, 2009 12:39 PM

DeGroff, A. Leo

LCDR A. Leo DeGroff, USN (Ret), 84, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully at home in the company of his family on Jan. 3, 2009.
Born in South Bend, Ind., on March 28, 1924, he was the son of Dale DeGroff and Thelma Bays, and stepson of Cletus Michels.
After graduating from Mishawaka High School, he entered the U.S. Navy as an aviation cadet, completing flight school in Corpus Christi, Texas. While stationed at Charlestown Naval Air Station, he married Carmela Pignataro of Westerly, who survives him.
He is also survived by a brother, Carroll DeGroff of Westerly and a sister, Catherine Shafer of Mishawaka, Ind. He was the beloved father of Judith Davis of Canterbury, Conn., Dale DeGroff of West Hempstead, N.Y., and Donna DeGroff of Westerly. He also leaves seven grandchildren: Jill Brennan, Jeff Davis, Leo DeGroff, Maria Mason, Blake DeGroff, Daniel Kenenski and Jonathan Kenenski, and two great-grandchildren, Birch and Alden Brennan.
His career as a naval officer spanned 23 years during which time he served on the USS Essex, the USS Antietam and numerous duty stations abroad and in the U.S. LCDR DeGroff was then employed by General Dynamics until his retirement.
He was a long-time member of the Westerly Lions Club and served for many years as Youth Exchange Chairman. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus 4th degree and served for many years as treasurer. He was a member of the Westerly Elks and a social member of the Calabrese Club. LCDR DeGroff enjoyed swimming daily at the Ocean Community YMCA.
He was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church, serving as lector, member of the parish council as well as volunteering in the parish office.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 11 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church. Burial will be private.
Calling hours will be held at the Gaffney Dolan Funeral home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly, on Tuesday, Jan. 6 from 4 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, Immaculate Conception Church, or Hospice of RI.
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Published in The Westerly Sun on 1/5/2009

Posted by Admin Website on January 6th, 2009 12:39 PMPost a Comment (0)

What do Lions do?...We Serve!

January 30th, 2009 11:11 AM

The Westerly Lions collected food for the Westerly Johnnycake Center at our January 28th meeting. A request for help from the Center was presented to and approved by the Lions Board on January 21st.

By mobilizing our phone and email committee, the Lions were able to collect 15 bags of food in just a week.

The Board also voted to run a food collection each month, so please remember to bring something to our next meeting too. Our community needs our help, and we are here to answer the call.

(L to R ) Lions Joe Abbott, Bill Brennan, Gary Latz, Dick Cofoni, Michelle Pendola, Angie Smith and Jennifer Campo with just a small sampling of what was collected.

Posted by Admin Website on January 30th, 2009 11:11 AMPost a Comment (1)

Make your Reservation for meeting on-line

January 22nd, 2009 8:12 AM

January 28th Westerly Lions Club meeting will be held at Venice Restaurant. Members and guests are welcome.

Please let us know by Sunday, Jan 25^th if you will or will not be attending

Click the link below

I will attend the meeting on Jan. 28 at Venice

I will not attend the meeting on Jan 28th

Posted by Admin Website on January 22nd, 2009 8:12 AMPost a Comment (0)

Mane Issue for January 2009

January 22nd, 2009 8:10 AM

THE MANE ISSUE January 2009

PRESIDENT GARY LATZ

1^STVP. DAVID URSO 2^ND VP. JOE IACOI

3^RDVP. DAN MARANTZ TREAS. GILBERT SCOTT

SEC . JARED BEAULIEU TAIL TWISTER ANGIE SMITH

LION TAMER DICK WHITMAN MEMBERSHIP BRIAN MCCUIN

DINNER MEETING at the VENICE RESTUARANT

165 SHORE ROAD

WESTERLY, RI

JANUARY 28, 2009

6:00 – 7:00 PM COCKTAILS 7:00 - 9:00 PM DINNER MEETING

VENICE FARE

GUEST SPEAKER TOM GIBNEY: WESTERLY AMBULANCE CORP

AND CLAIRE LETIZIO : JONNYCAKE CENTER

$20.00

BOARD DISCUSSIONS: JANUARY 21 , 2009

THE BOARD HAS VOTED TO BRING BEFORE THE CLUB, FOR THEIR APPROVAL, A REQUEST FOR $1200 WHICH WOULD BE FOR A WESTERLY CHILD TO HAVE DRAINAGE TUBES SURGICALLY IMPANTED IN HIS EARS. THERE IS A CHRONIC HEARING PROBLEM AT THIS TIME THAT THIS OPERATION WOULD RESOLVE. THERE WILL BE MORE DETAIL AT THE MEETING.

JOE IACOI IS AGAIN GOING TO CHAIR AN EVENING OF WINE TASTING TO BE HELD ON THE 1^ST FRIDAY IN MAY. YES, THAT WILL BE MAY 1, 2009! JOE WILL PRESENT MORE INFORMATION THIS FUN EVENT AT THE MEETING.

A BRIEF DISCUSSION WAS AGAIN HELD ON THE SUCCESS OF OUR CLUB’S WEBSITE AND BLOG. DAN IS NOW WORKING ON A HYPERLINK WHICH WILL ALLOW YOU TO ACCEPT AND CONFIRM YOU RSVP TO THE DINNER MEETINGS WITH A CLICK OF A BUTTON CONTAINED WITHIN THE MANE ISSUE. WE HOPE TO HAVE THIS OPERATIONAL FOR THE NEXT MANE ISSUE.

THIS YEAR THE JONNYCAKE CENTER HAS RECEIVED AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY REQUESTS FOR BASIC FOOD STAPLES AND THE CENTER IS FINDING IT DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN THE SUPPLY. THE CENTER IS ALSO IN NEED OF CASH WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE CENTER TO PURCHASE FROM THE RHODE ISLAND FOOD BANK. BESIDES THESE, THE CENTER IS ALSO IN NEED OF MORE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP WITH THEIR PROGRAMS. VISIT WITH CLAIRE LETIZIO ON WHERE YOU COULD HELP. AS A RESULT OF THIS NEED THE BOARD IS ASKING THE WESTERLY LIONS TO PLEASE BRING TO THIS JANUARY MEETING A DONATION OF NONPERISHABLE CANNED OR DRIED FOODS. WE WILL BE COLLECTING THESE DONATIONS AT OUR MEETINGS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

NOTE THAT WE WILL BE HAVING OUR DINNER MEETING FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH AT THE VENICE RESTAURANT.

PLEASE SEND ANY ADDRESS, E-MAIL, OR MEMBERSHIP CHANGES TO: jbeaulieu@unitedbuilderssupply.com

Posted by Admin Website on January 22nd, 2009 8:10 AMPost a Comment (0)