Ken joined Rockland Rotary in 1972 at the age of 35. At that time, Rev. William Robbins was the president and Rotary was a suit-and-tie association made up of professional men. Ken was recently honored for his 52 years as a Rockland Rotarian, with 50 years of perfect attendance. Over the years Ken has served on various committees, spent 9 years on the Board of Directors, and became president in 1985. During his presidential year, Ken attended the Rotary International Convention in Las Vegas. This convention was the one that voted to extinguish Polio by Rotary International’s 100th Anniversary in 2005. Just three years later at the Philadelphia Convention, Rotary had raised the money to take on Polio, pertussis, red measles and more. During Ken’s presidential year (‘85-’86), Rockland Rotary earned the Rotary Attendance Award for the entire District. Most recently, Ken has had the privilege of being Rockland Rotary’s chaplain and instituting the weekly “Rotary Minute”. He is the club’s Rotary International Foundation chairperson. Ken and his late wife, Mary, generously contributed to the “All-Aboard Inclusive Playground” located at MacDonald Park. Although no one currently in the club was a Rotarian when Ken joined, Ken states, “Rotary has been a lot more than a club to me, it is a way of life. All of the Rockland Rotarians have been like family, and I’m so grateful.” Rockland Rotary is proud to honor Ken Gricus with their prestigious Rotarian of the Year 2025 Award.
Photo L-R: Rockland Rotary President Mike Flanagan, Ken Gricus, and Honorary Rockland Rotarian Jay Curley