Spring 2025

Club President Mark Grandcola, with past president Dee Adolph, who was also the club’s first woman president and past president 1erv 7utton a member for over years. R otary was founded in Chicago in 1905. Attorney Paul Harris envisioned a place where “professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, life- long friendships.” 45 years later, the Carmel-by- the-Sea Rotary was founded, marking its 75th anniversary this year. Carmel natives Merv Sutton and Bill Doolittle have been members for a combined 115 years. “I love Rotary,” Sutton says. “It’s been a big part of my life. We’ve done a lot of good here.” Doolittle agrees. “We support a great many Carmel nonprofits, including the Carmel 0ibrary, PacRep Theatre, the Carmel Youth Center and Carmel 9nified 7chool (istrict,² he e\plains “Organizations we help outside the Carmel area include Rancho Cielo in Salinas. Rotary is also involved in international philanthropic efforts as well, including with Nanao, Japan, Carmel’s sister city.” To date, more than $4 million has been contributed to those and other organizations. On March 29, 2025, the club hosts a 75th Anniversary Gala, an evening “honoring decades of service, community impact and generosity.” ,eld at Carmel’s 5uail 0odge, it Jeatures dinner and entertainment by Italian tenor Pasquale Esposito. Community leaders will share stories from the club’s 75-year history. All proceeds benefit 6otary’s eJJorts For tickets and more information, please visit www.rotarycarmel.org/75th-anniversary-gala. Carmel Rotar y Celebrates 75 Years of Ser vice to the Community & = 1 - C,% ) 0 C,%8 * - ) 0( 7,368 CUTS '31192-8= 72 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 5 Photo: Kelli Uldall