It all started in the fall of 1924 when Frank Loftus brought a bouquet of fresh garden flowers to the regular meeting of the club.  Afterwards, he took the flowers to the grave of Charles W. Nichols, a past Rotary president who had recently died.  The custom grew in an informal manner and when Loftus died four years later, the official Frank Loftus Day Memorial Service was held - a cherished Lansing Rotary Club tradition that the first Friday in September honors deceased club members who are buried in the Lansing area. 

 

It was not surprising that Frank Loftus started this revered tradition.  A longtime grocer and life-long Lansing resident, he was known for his compassion, often extending credit at his store on Washington Avenue to families who were encountering difficult financial times.  His civic dedication was legendary.  He also gave his time to volunteer with the local Red Cross, with his church and with the Knights of Columbus.  He died on May 30, 1928, the major headline in the Lansing Capital News was "Loftus Dies Suddenly" and the accompanying article went on to describe the many contributions he had made to his community.

 

It is likely our club is the only one in Rotary International that remembers it deceased members in such a unique way.