Bungoma Water Project
Remembering Joan Tilton
Joan Tilton's Profile Photo
Our club's Foundation Director, Joan Tilton, passed away at home on March 26. A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, April 24. See events section for details.
Joan battled cancer for quite some time. She was recently hospitalized to fix a hernia. During the surgery, it was discovered that the cancer had invaded her intestines. Ultimately, this led to her death at home from sepsis after a short time in hospice care.
Here is the biography that she posted in her profile on our website:
The oldest of 4 children, I was born in Chicago and raised in Northbrook, Illinois, a suburb north of Chicago, Illinois. My father immigrated from Holland and owned a tool and die business in Chicago. I Graduated with honors from Southern Illinois University with majors in Recreation Administration and Journalism. In recreation, I held program director and facility management positions for approximately 10 years when I went to work for ITT Sheraton in Boston, MA as an assistant in Franchising. When Seattle Sheraton opened in 1982, I moved here to work with the Public Relations Department and assist with the grand opening of the hotel. Then I migrated to Puget Sound Power & Light and worked in conservation and marketing. In 1985, I met and married Russell, and raised two boys (Matthew and John). We opened an electrical contracting company in 1987 and have worked together since that time building our family-owned business. Russell is the Master Electrician and is one of only a handful of electrical contractors in the state who can design build and can do anything that comes his way. I fill the shoes of President and manage HR, Customer Service, and Accounting.
Dedication of Completed Water Project in Kenya
To see stories about the previous project, you can search the stories area. There is also a photo album of the Bungoma Water Project, which is displayed in a carousel at the top of the website.
Before her death, Joan expressed to her husband, Russ, and club members that, regardless of what happened to her, she wanted the current project to be completed. Barney Petersen, a member of our club's foundation committee, has agreed to oversee the project to completion.
In memory of Joan, and with Russ' concurrence, memorial gifts in Joan's name can be made to the Arlington Rotary Foundation, earmarked for international water projects. Please send donations to the Foundation's Treasurer, Cindy Huleatt, at 17102 Jim Creek Road, Arlington, WA 98223.
