Dear Rotarians,
I wanted to take this chance to address the club about the
impact one member has had on my life.
I received an email two days ago that Nels Granewall had
peacefully passed away. This news, while saddening, didn’t come as a surprise, given that Nels
had battled cancer for the past few years.
Whenever someone close passes away, it affords us both the
opportunity to reflect on the profound influence he or she has had in our
lives, and also the chance to preserve their deeds through our mourning
process.
Rotary prides itself as an organization dedicated to the
cause of bettering humanity. Its countless accomplishments are built upon the
sturdy foundation of ‘Service
above self.’ I want to use this opportunity to tell of the
selfless service shown by Nels.
When I was 16 years old, my worldview was expanded in such
a way that proved to be, at minimum, incredibly transformative. After nervously
applying as a candidate to Rotary’s
Youth Exchange Program, I was selected as an alternate. I was later given a
place in the program and spent a year in Slovakia. Needless to say, one cannot
enumerate the benefits I drew from the experience. Nels served as my Youth
Exchange Counselor for the second half of my year abroad. It was a task he
executed with a sense of duty and responsibility. It was at this point that I
saw his passion for breaking down cultural and geographic barriers. At times,
he seemed more excited about the experiences I was having than I was!
Upon my return, Nels began to play a larger role in my
life. He encouraged me to stay active with Rotary, and suggested I take over
the Oak Bay High School’s
Interact Club. With his assistance (along with the dedicated work of other
Rotarians) we increased the membership from six the previous year to 45. We
undertook a campaign to fund the construction of a school in Malawi and raised
thousands of dollars for this important cause. Nels saw the intrinsic value of
community service and shared this passion with those around him.
After my high school graduation, Nels and I kept in close
contact. In my first year of university, he suggested I consider applying for a
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship. I had been told by many Rotarians of Nels’ strong belief in the program. He saw
Rotary’s
resources as an integral tool in not only engaging youth, but also doing so in
a way that brought about meaningful, tangible change in communities. I took his
advice, was nominated and later received the award. I spent a year in Turkey
studying social inequities, and photographing areas in the conflict-ridden
Kurdish areas.
My passion for photography would never have been discovered
had Nels not encouraged me to follow my desire to see and understand more of
the world. It was in Turkey where I felt the profound effect images could have
on both others and me. This passion has taken me to many striking locations,
including Iran, Iraq, Syria, Rwanda and Uganda.
Upon my completion of the year, I was awarded a Paul Harris
Fellowship and Nels proudly stood beside me (after giving a flattering
introduction) as I received the award. What amazed me about Nels was his
ability to foster passion and invest in those youth with a shared desire to
engage all opportunities that bring positive change. He saw my potential and
aggressively involved me in community service projects with Rotary- both at
home and abroad.
His impact still resonates when it comes to ambitiously
expanding my horizons. When the January 25th revolution toppled
former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, I waited only a few days before
applying for a job in Cairo. I earned a position teaching politics and history
in a country rife with turmoil. In fact, I am writing this letter from Egypt in
my second year at the school. Had I not received the support I did from Nels
and Rotary during my other times abroad, I would not have jumped at the
opportunity to enter the fray of a post-revolution society inundated with
growing pains.
Fittingly, as I write to you I’m reminded of the ancient Egyptian
story of death. They believed that before the deceased could pass onward into
the afterlife, they were asked two questions.
The first question was “Did you find happiness in this world?” Given Nels’ dedicated passion and excitement for
the world, I believe he did. Those who saw the joys Nels took in his pursuits
can only nod with a smile on their face.
The second question was “Did you bring happiness to others in
this world?”
It is my sincere belief that as we talk about the accomplishments of Nels in
the following days amongst friends and colleagues, the question answers itself.
None of us need struggle to remember the impact of his presence. His service,
placed high above self, ripples further outwards even after his passing.
This is our benchmark and this is our aim - to produce an enduring
legacy of selfless action. In the end, this becomes measure of one’s life. Nels, for all that he was,
lit a path for youth to follow that will continue to shine bright.
Best regards,
Leyland Cecco
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