News of The Rotary Club of Portland, Maine September 30, 2020
District Attorney to Address Club October 2
District Attorney Jonathan Sahrbeck began his legal career as a prosecutor in Massachusetts working as an Assistant District Attorney in numerous locations including Fall River, Lowell, and Framingham. While there, he received extensive courtroom experience with 60 jury trials and over 100 bench trials and evidentiary motion hearings. Sahrbeck returned to Maine in 2012 with the Maine Attorney General’s Office as a drug prosecutor in York County. He then began work as a Human Trafficking prosecutor in Cumberland County in 2016 after spending two years practicing at a civil law firm in Portland.
Sahrbeck was elected Cumberland County District Attorney in 2018 emphasizing a focus on public safety, law enforcement, and standing up for victims. He is focusing on more prevention and education to fight the opioid epidemic and substance use disorder, more emphasis on stopping domestic violence, elder abuse and child abuse, and human trafficking, and looking at new programs that recognize victims, reduce recidivism, and utilize restorative justice measures.
Sahrbeck was born and raised in Cumberland County. He graduated from Connecticut College and American University’s Washington College of Law.
Remembering Loretta
We lost a true Rotarian last week. I asked Tom Talbott and David Putnam to share their memories of Loretta, and I'm also including here John Marr's comments he wrote for Bits & Pieces.–Bob Martin
Some people join Rotary, others embrace it.
Rotary was Loretta Rowe's family, and she cared for it with as much passion and attention as a mother would look after her children. That is not an overstatement. I am gum sure that it gave her life’s most fulfilling experiences, and her proudest moments.
As our President, she was confident, bold and decisive, winning over the old guard of the day. She would become the Assistant District Governor, and was putting in 40 hours a week on that task. Without question she earned the right to be the District Governor, if she chose to seek that role. However, her true love was our club, and she did not pursue the opportunity.
She was not one to easily share her story, but those who knew her, were aware that life was not an easy road for Loretta. I won’t pretend to suggest I know all the details, but as she fought mightily to beat cancer, she dealt with a great sadness over her estranged daughter.
She longed to be back with us more than anyone can imagine. Last year, it appeared that she had won the battle, overcoming the odds. She gave an emotional speech to the club, a joyous day indeed. It was short-lived, as the cancer returned with a vengeance. She took it on, privately, not wanting to burden anyone. In the final few weeks, back home, many Rotarians took time to visit, assist, and even stay the night to help out. As Rotarians, Loretta will always be with us. For those who had the honor of working with her, enjoying her friendship, inspired by her dedication to Rotary and our club, we know that she truly exemplified service above self.
Last word. If you ever played poker with Loretta, she was a shark. Those steely eyes gave you no tell, and you could be sure your money would soon be in her possession. Gotta love it.
Love,
–Tom Talbott
I was touched by the kindness of Rotarians and former members of our Club who assisted Loretta in caregiving and visiting during her final days. We were her family; she was moved by the support in the past month from Rotarians, Rotarian spouses, former members of our Club and her good friend Mona and Mona’s husband, Roy.
I learned a few things about Loretta during her last days at her home in Scarborough. I knew that Loretta joined the Portland Rotary Club in 1988 shortly after women were accepted as members, and that Loretta was one of the first women inducted into our club. Loretta informed me that she joined because her employer strongly recommended her membership in Portland Rotary. She indicated that in her first year as a Rotarian, Matt Tassey welcomed her to the club and asked for her assistance with his committee. She told me that participating in the committee activities was very important in her early days as a member; without Matt’s engagement she may have drifted away. I knew that Loretta was from New Jersey, but I did not know that her father died from an automobile accident when she was three years old, and that her mother had a challenging time as a single mother raising Loretta and her siblings. I suspect that Loretta’s work ethic was influenced by all that her mother did to support her children. I remember during my first years with Portland Rotary we would hold an annual Crafts Fair on Congress Street in July. Many Club members would assist by taking a 2- or 3-hour shift, but Loretta worked the entire day running our food cart.
Loretta was the first woman President of Portland Rotary (1998-1999). She has been a steady presence in our Club; always volunteering with projects and events and managing the Club Directory, and she served as Club Secretary for a number of years. Loretta also served as an Assistant District Governor for our Rotary District.
Loretta had a vanity license plate “Tigger”; one of the characters from the Winnie the Pooh stories. Loretta was a Tigger - - - full of energy, a can-do attitude, lively and enthusiastic. She gave it her all and she had her own distinctive way - - her own style. Always willing to lend a hand. My memory of Loretta will always be a strong and vibrant woman who loved Rotary and her Rotary family and who provided numerous hours of service to our Club and our community. She was a positive force who lived the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” and she leaves us with many wonderful memories of our time together.
–David Putnam
As beautiful a day as it was outside, the inside of every Rotarian was sad and suffering from a broken heart as we lamented the loss of a giant, our Loretta Rowe, the first female President of the Rotary Club of Portland and a member of the District Board. It seems like everyone has a special Loretta recollection. She will never be duplicated and never forgotten, that is a certainty. Many of us were able to get by and see Loretta in her waning days but it was never enough, and she was still able to muster that spark that made her so special. The club will find a proper manner to recognize the life and gift of Loretta Rowe and suggestions are solicited. Rotary was Loretta’s family and many if not all would say she was the matriarch.
–John Marr
Bits and Pieces | byJohn Marr
The first meeting of autumn season was a day of splendor as we Zoomed into another visual gathering of the Rotary Club of Portland. Per usual, there was the chatter taking place that fostered the creation of this B & P section of the Windjammer. We all, I’m sure, look forward to the day when we can convene around the table and exchange pleasantries, impart opinions and bits of information, along with discussing the many adventures that go on in a busy Rotarian’s life. For example, we learned that our peripatetic Doctor of Audiology, Roger Fagan, is in the early days of recovery from joint surgery. We wish Roger well and are sure that his new “part” will make him more of a force in “service above self.” For over a couple of decades Roger, Liz, and a band of Portland Rotarians have traveled to La Romana, in the Dominican Republic, to provide hearing and speech care, along with a myriad of other services, for the needy citizens. The scourge of 2020, aka COVID-19, is preventing travel this year, but Roger has a backup plan. The hospital, as one would expect, is overwhelmed with the needs to administer to those affected by the pandemic. Consequently, we have decided to contribute the Hearts for Hearing funds to the hospital in La Romana.
Our club has always been one of giving and service and is not about to let a pandemic stop us in our tracks. A great deal of discussion took place on what projects we can do, and how to go about them. While the Preble Street kitchen may be unable to serve a seated meal to those in need, they have an alternative, a boxed meal. Jan Chapman,Bruce Moore, and Amy Chipman have been going over and preparing the food boxes which are distributed, proving that a grand heart promotes pure genius! Ben Delcourt has been working with Doreen Rockstrom to maintain some involvement in our Childhood Hunger & Education (CHE) concentration and new ideas are germinating and we will retain our force. Patty Erickson, Charlie Frair and Paul Tully put together another magnificent Flags for Heroes in recognition for those who have served. The exact amount of funds raised remains to be determined but Charlie, a master of calculating a bet, figures it will be in excess of $8,000.
The fellowship of our new Zoom world is, to be sure, different from anything we’ve ever experienced, but it is not done nor even moribund, as the recent Trivia Night at the Italian Heritage Center proved. It seems that 2020 is going to be the storied year of contestation, as several teams claimed to have won or should have won, but we all know, when we are together, we all win. Thanks to Mike Fortunato and David Putnamfor putting the evening together.
Bob Martin shared the results of the Community Services Committee Member Survey conducted during September on Survey Monkey to gauge members on ideas and preferences for community service projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses were received from 58 members, 47% of the Club. Of those, 85% had been club members for more than 5 years, and 70% had participated in Community Services projects in the past. During COVID, 51% of respondents said they were “Likely” to participate in a project if proper safety protocols were in place. “Unlikely” responses were received from 49% of respondents, almost all of these were due to personal health concerns. Participants’ suggested projects included outdoor cleanup events, food deliveries, Christmas bellringing, and the St. Vincent’s Thanksgiving meal. Many of those who expressed concern about participating indicated they would make financial contributions in support.
John Calvin Stevens: Rotary Club Founder, Architect, and Artist
by Jake Bourdeau
John Calvin Stevens, one of Portland Rotary’s founders, was a famous architect in Maine, but he also trained as an artist. At the meeting on Friday, Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr., Maine’s State Historian and former Director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, gave a presentation on the artistic endeavors of John Calvin Stevens.
Stevens, born in Boston in 1855, moved to Portland in 1857, graduated from Portland High School in 1873, and then went to MIT. Stevens started his career with architect Francis Facett, and ultimately started his own architecture firm in 1884 and maintained that business until 1940. Shettleworth estimated that Stevens completed 300 projects on the Portland peninsula, 100 projects in the Deering neighborhood, and another 500-600 projects in northeastern Maine.
Stevens started his artistic practices similarly to his architectural work with drawings, moving quickly to charcoal, and then to watercolors. Stevens showed early talent for painting at the same time his architecture skills were growing. Like many artists, Stevens started by copying prints of famous artists including those of Winslow Homer.
Stevens joined a local art group called the Brush’uns who met each Sunday in outdoor settings (mainly by the ocean or water) where they largely painted plein air of natural scenery. As Stevens increased his participation in Portland’s art community, both with the Brush’uns, and later with the Portland Society of Art at their club house, his commitment was instrumental in founding the Portland Museum of Art, where he sponsored sketch classes for the public, and assisted in the Museum’s growth and architecture.
Throughout the presentation, Shettleworth showed us numerous chronological paintings that Stevens completed, and noted the architectural components many of the paintings had. During his career, Stevens did not just paint on canvas, but his work included illustrating books and their covers, making play posters, painting sculptures and bowls.
Mr. Shettleworth pointed out Stevens was ever active and creative. Part of him did leave an architectural imprint on Maine, but he also created a structure of institutions giving back to the community in terms of culture and art. It sounds like Stevens certainly had the Rotary spirit.
A Moment of Reflection
After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, love, and so on [and] have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear — what remains?
Nature remains; to bring out from their torpid recesses, the affinities of a man or woman with the open air, the trees, fields, the changes of seasons — the sun by day and the stars of heaven by night.
–Walt Whitman
Speaker Schedule
October 2 | Jonathan Sahrbeck, Cumberland County DA
October 9 | NO MEETING
October 16 | Chris Vickers, STARC Systems
October 23 | Dan Shea, Colby College, Election Forecast
October 30 | Steve Bromage, Maine Historical Society
November 6 | Veterans Day Event
November 13 | TBD
November 20 | Heather T. Pacquette, VP Retail Services, Hannaford
November 27 | NO MEETING
December 4 | Vin Veroneau, President, J.B. Brown Company
December 11 | Rich Cantz, President, Goodwill
December 18 | Greg Mitchell, Economic Development Director, City of Portland
in numerous locations including Fall River, Lowell, and Framingham. While there, he received extensive courtroom experience with 60 jury trials and over 100 bench trials and evidentiary motion hearings. Sahrbeck returned to Maine in 2012 with the Maine Attorney General’s Office as a drug prosecutor in York County. He then began work as a Human Trafficking prosecutor in Cumberland County in 2016 after spending two years practicing at a civil law firm in Portland..JPG)
was a famous architect in Maine, but he also trained as an artist. At the meeting on Friday, Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr., Maine’s State Historian and former Director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, gave a presentation on the artistic endeavors of John Calvin Stevens.
