More than a dozen people gathered to pay tribute to late Rotarian Arnold Swartz on the cold Friday afternoon after Thanksgiving, dedicating a tree on the edge of the Maple Drive parking lot to commemorate his service.
Swartz, an active Rotarian who lived in Great Neck for decades, died last year at 82 years old. But the turkey drive, which his son Ron described as his father’s “pet project,” continues to give Thanksgiving meals to families in need nearly 30 years later.
“… It’s really an appropriate time of year now because this is the way he associated most with Rotary and I’m only a Rotarian because of him,” Swartz said.
This year’s turkey drive gave out 1,200 Thanksgiving meals, according to drive organizer Roger Chizever, and they hope to give out even more next year.
Swartz also recalled how his father would take his grandchildren up to the Merchant Marine Academy to help with the annual turkey drive he helped spearhead, and how he was drawn to the organization because he wanted to give back.
“He liked the people and everything the rotary stood for: service above self,” Swartz, who joined more than a decade ago because of his father, said after the event.
Lidia Epel, the president of the Rotary Club of Great Neck, described Arnold Swartz as a “very long, outstanding member” who helped and guided her and that many members wanted to honor him for his service.
“[Rotary International] decided two years ago that we ought to plant trees in our communities and that was our excuse to plant a tree in honor of Arnold,” Epel said. “We were trying to figure out something and when that came through Rotary International, it made perfect sense to us, and that’s what they did.”
Asked how he felt about this tribute, Swartz said it brings things “full circle.”
“I think it’s nice that we’re here in town, it’s a tree, so it will grow and will provide nurture and shelter for people and shade and all kinds of things,” Swartz said. “It’s giving back to the community, it’s a permanent marker, and a permanent remembrance of all he gave to the community, so it’s like a full circle.”
