On Tuesday, April 2, 2024 we lost a long-time Rotarian and friend, Monte Hewson. A transcription of Tom Funk's eulogy for Monte is provided below as well as a link to his obituary.
On April 2, 2024 we lost a long-time Rotarian and friend, Monte Hewson. Monte will be missed deeply by our club and by all those who were lucky enough to know him.
At our meeting on Friday, April 5, 2024 we honoured the memory of Monte. Tom Funk gave a wonderful eulogy that is provided below.
The first Friday in June of 1983 was a very happy day for me and for Rotary because, as his proposer, that was the day I welcomed Monte Hewson into Rotary. Today is a very sad day for me, and for Rotary, because it is the day we say farewell of this wonderful man.
As most of you know, Monte was a very successful florist in Guelph. He opened Monte’s Place in Campus Estates in the late 1970s. It was arguably the finest floral shop in Guelph. It achieved this reputation because of Monte’s artistic ability with plants, his personal relationships with customers and his high ethical standards as a business person.
Monte was also a great Rotarian. Sitting with him for lunch was a real pleasure because of his charming personality, and great sense of humour. He was always ready to volunteer his time and supply floral arrangements for many of our events.
The most important thing in Monte’s life was his family - his wife Ann and his two children. Son Thomas is a Senior Manager at Linamar and daughter Gillian is a family physician in Guelph. He was immensely proud of both of them. And, as most of you know, he had an identical twin brother, Mitchell. If you saw them together there is no way you could tell them apart. They looked, and even sounded, exactly the same. The likeness was incredible.
They say heaven is a beautiful place. Now it will be even more beautiful that Monte is charge of the floral arrangements! Monte, all your Rotary friends will miss you. Rest in peace!
Thank you Tom for this wonderful eulogy. Monte's obituary is here.