It is with surprise and sadness that I share this news Past President and Past District Governor Sandy Schley and fellow member Jim Ryman shared with me this past weekend: Rotary International President-Elect Sam Owori died unexpectedly after a scheduled surgical procedure last week.Our club’s contingent to Rotary International’s Atlanta Convention 2017 heard Sam Owori (pictured above) speak when he was nominated and accepted the appointment as 108th President of Rotary International in 2018–2019. At the time, less than two months ago, he came across as vibrant, full of life, hope and promise. In his acceptance speech, he sated “I feel immense satisfaction knowing through Rotary, I’ve helped someone live better.”
As President Ian Riseley stated in Rotary’s official statement “in this difficult time, I ask you to keep his wife, Norah, the Owori family and Sam’s millions of friends around the world in your thoughts.”
The full text of RI’s official announcement is available here.