Oak Bay Rotary's Discussion Page

Remembering Cedric Marsh, a former member who Joined Oak Bay Rotary on his birthday, March 2, 1999, and who died on January 21, 2013.

Cedric, left with Bedrija Hromic, Lorna Curtis and Bob Beauvais during a Mount Finlayson hike.

Born in Wigan, Lancashire, Cedric graduated from Cambridge University, England, in the 40’s and joined the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough where he remained until the end of the war. He worked at Alcan in Switzerland and Canada designing ‘things’ in aluminum, including an aircraft hangar at Heathrow Airport, a 16-acre exhibition hall roof in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the familiar railway wheat car with curved sides, and the ‘tuning fork’ goal posts used by the CFL and NFL.

He was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Waterloo, followed by Sir George Williams (now Concordia University) in Montreal, all the while maintaining a consulting practice. The combined roles took him to many countries in South America, with lecture tours in South Africa and Australia.

He chaired committees on aluminum structures in Canada, the USA and Europe and belonged to the body that writes the National Building Code of Canada. He had many ideas for earthquake proofing buildings.

Cedric was married to Patricia, who shared part of his childhood. Three children and nine grandchildren are scattered across the world. He retired as Professor Emeritus and moved to Victoria in 1998. He is a past member of the Westmount, Montreal Rotary Club.

The following obit. appeared in the Times Colonist:

Nels was a long-time member of the Oak Bay Rotary Club, serving as President in 1985-86. The following letter in tribute to Nels on his passing last week, comes from former Oak Bay Rotary Exchange Student, Leyland Cecco.

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 25^th 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

Monday, 29 April 2013

Tuscan Dinner Photos 2013

Tuesday, 26 February 2013

Fireside at Jack's

Tuesday, 5 February 2013

District Leadership Training Assembly March 23-24

Wednesday, 30 January 2013

In Memoriam: Cedric Marsh

Thursday, 8 November 2012

Tree Appreciation Day, November 4, 2012

Friday, 2 November 2012

A Tribute to Nels Granewall: Aug 30, 1940 - Oct 23, 2012