President Ryan thanked the volunteers from the Lifebridge Dinner last week for a job well done! Led by Chef extraordinaire, Hannah Beth Hembree, the team served about 80 sloppy joes that were enjoyed by all. The next dinner is coming up in November. Consider joining the fun!
Honoring a President, Eric Daniels
Eric Daniels, a Lynn Rotarian and dedicated funeral director with Service Corporation International (SCI), presented on the company’s extensive work in honoring the legacy of those who pass and his experience assisting with the funeral of President Jimmy Carter.
SCI is one of North America’s leading providers of funeral, cemetery, and cremation services. Based in Houston, Texas, SCI owns and operates 1,490 funeral service locations and 492 cemeteries across 44 U.S. states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Locally. As part of the Dignity Memorial® brand, they operate the Cuffe-McGinn Funeral Home in Lynn and the Eustis & Corneel Funeral Home in Marblehead, among others in Massachusetts.
SCI also operates Joseph Gawler’s Sons, LLC in Washington, DC, which has managed the services for presidents, vice presidents, Supreme Court justices, members of Congress, cabinet secretaries, military leaders, foreign dignitaries and other high-profile individuals. Having managed the services for President Abraham Lincoln, Gawler’s is believed to be the oldest funeral establishment still operating in the D.C. area and was acquired by SCI in the late 1990s.
Eric, a veteran of the United States Army, has been in funeral services for over 30 years, the last 20 of which have been in management positions. Due to his incredible commitment to service and his compassion for those experiencing the loss of a loved one, Eric received a service recognition from his company that put him on a short list to assist with high-profile services coordinated throughout the country. On New Year’s Eve in 2024, he received a call at 4 PM regarding the passing of President Jimmy Carter. He was on a flight to Washington, DC by 4 AM the next morning to assist with the services.
One of a 30-member team, Eric’s role was to serve as the back up driver for the hearse. He explained that in funerals of this stature, there are multiple hearses available in the event that one fails or something goes wrong. While not the main driver, he still participated in 12+ hour trainings for multiple days to prepare for the State Funeral. When he wasn’t practicing, he was detailing the hearse to a pristine level for the services, even though his was not the main vehicle.
Part of Eric’s role was also to sit in the Washington National Cathedral to greet Congressional dignitaries who signed the guest book at the funeral. He explained that there were six tables for this and that all Congressional leaders went through one door, while the Presidents entered through another accompanied by their secret service teams. This was a truly memorable experience for him that he felt privileged to be part of.
Calendar Winner!
Evan Moriarty sold by Joanne Scott
50:50 Raffle
$2,210
David Deutsch & Amanda Thompson
No winners this week!
Visitors and Guest Rotarians
Jeff Swartz and Eric’s wife, Christina Daniels, were guests of the Club this week.
Volunteer
Let’s not forget our motto, Service Above Self! The Community Service Committee is working hard this year to find more opportunities for Salem Rotarians to serve in our community. If you are new to the Club, this is a great way to engage with other Rotarians and the Salem community. We even have Rotary t-shirts to wear during these projects. If you do not have one, reach out to President Ryan!
SAVE THE DATE: Eliot Services Appreciation Day Cookout Thursday, September 18 | Winter Island
The Salem Rotary Club sponsors this annual lunch for Eliot clients every year. There is food, music and door prizes for guests, and a need for Rotarian volunteers! More details will follow, but if you have interest in helping and availability, please let Marie Cardillo know!
CHILDREN’S BOOK DRIVE – SALEM HOSPITAL Tuesday, September 30 | Rotary & Phoenix School Collection
We are joining forces with the EarlyAct Club at the Phoenix School to collect children’s books for Salem Hospital. Please bring books to the Phoenix School between now and Tuesday, September 30, or bring them to our meeting that day when the Phoenix School will join us. They will get the books to those who need them at Salem Hospital. Reach out to Leslie Levesque with any questions.
Matt Callcut is organizing a Rotary outing to The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy. A chilling cocktail experience dedicated to the stories of Edgar Allan Poe, you will hear four of his most famous stories, retold and reimagined by Poe historians, at a dark speakeasy. Reservations are restricted to a small number of guests for a 90-minute experience. Matt will secure 20 tickets for this event, which can be purchased by Rotarians on a first come first serve basis. Tickets are $55. If you wish to help make this a fundraiser for our Club, donations are also welcome! RSVP to Matt asap if you would like to attend.
As we prepare for this year’s Mad Hatter Tea Party Gala & Auction, we are excited to bring our community together for an evening of fun, creativity, and impact. One of the highlights of the night will be our auction, which helps raise the vital funds that fuel our Rotary Scholarship Fund.
To make this event truly extraordinary, we need your help in securing high-quality auction items that will inspire bidding and excitement. Think about:
If you have a great item to donate—or know a business, colleague, or friend who might—please reach out! Sometimes, the best items come from personal connections, and your network could make all the difference.
Please let us know what you can contribute, or who we can reach out to, by February 1, 2026.
Together, we can make this auction unforgettable and raise the resources needed to continue the incredible work of Salem Rotary. We are anticipating this to be a crowd drawing event, so be sure to get your tickets early and please share the event and ticket links on your social media platforms. Thank you for being part of the magic—we can’t wait to celebrate with you at the Mad Hatter Gala!
With gratitude, Jason & Heather Lang Auction Committee Chairs
RI & District News
CLOTHES & BOOK SWAP FUNDRAISER Sunday, September 28 | 11 AM -3 PM | Danvers Art Association - 105 Elliot Street, Danvers
The District Environmental Committee is excited to announce a District-wide Fundraiser, a Clothes and Book/Puzzle Swap. Clean out your closets and your bookcases and bring your gently used but no longer wanted items to the event (adult clothes only please). Leave empty handed, or feel free to "shop". $10 admission, food, drinks and raffle tickets available for purchase. This event is open to all so please invite your friends and family.
DG BOB WOOD MEMORIAL HEROES’ CELEBRATION: A Rotary Foundation/Paul Harris Fellow Event for our Veterans: Honoring Those Who Have Served! Wednesday, November 12 | Andover Country Club
Clubs are invited to nominate a local hero in our community and award them a Paul Harris Recognition. This year's honoree must be a military veteran this year. If you have a suggestion for a Salem hero, please contact President Ryan.
OTHER DISTRICT EVENTS
Feb. 12 World Peace and Understanding Event
Mar. 21 “Spring into Action” Polio Fundraiser
May 16 District Conference
Jun. 13-17 RI Convention in Taipei
Salem Rotarians Say . . .
Our group was so curious about Eric’s experiences today, there was no time for happy dollars. Maybe next time, Bill Henning!
18 Washington Square
Salem, MA 01970 United States of America
NOTE: The fourth Tuesday of the month is an evening meeting, beginning at 5:15 p.m.
If you are interested in learning more about Salem Rotary, please email president@salemrotary.com.
