Tribute to Ada K. Stoiber:

On November 19, 2020, we lost one described by those who knew her as a generous and gracious Lady, Ada Stoiber.
In his poem “What Will Matter” Michael Josephson writes “it’s not your success, or what you built, or the things you collect. What matters is the legacy you leave behind, not that you are remembered but how you are remembered, not how many people you know, but how many will feel a sense of loss when you are gone.”
 
Ada was born on February 26, 1930 in Kingston, PA. On June 6, 1959 she married Louis J. Stoiber of Wilkes-Barre, PA, and they eventually moved to Massena, NY. Louis joined the Massena Rotary Club and Ada was a Massena Rotary Ann. Active in the community Ada belonged to the Women’s Golf Club in Massena. She supported her church, St. Mary’s Catholic Church and Trinity Catholic School.
Louis was President of the Massena Rotary Club in 1977-78 and again for a couple of months in 1981. Ada always supported Louis in life. They both loved to travel and they were proud of attending as many Rotary International Conventions as possible, attending the 1988 Convention in Philadelphia just months before Louis’ passing. They were an institution at District 7040 Conferences.  Both were Paul Harris Fellows and Ada was an Honorary Member of the of Massena Rotary Club. She was awarded The Service Above Self Award for her support of Rotary and The Rotary Foundation.
 
Shortly after Louis’s death. Ada wanted to do something in memory of Louis and approached PDG John Murray who contacted The Rotary Foundation.  An Endowed Ambassadorial Scholarship in the name of Louis Stoiber was decided as the best way and Mrs. Stoiber made a substantial contribution.   The Rotary Foundation invested this contribution and over time the principle of the account achieved sufficient interest for District 7040 to award a Stoiber Scholarship now worth $30,000.  Mrs. Stoiber, Ada, remained involved and was interested in the scholars and maintained communication with many.  This scholarship is now a Global Scholarship and is awarded by the District as interest permits, not annually but approximately every second or third year, allowing District students, US or Canadian, to study abroad with respect to  The Rotary Foundation’s Areas of Focus.
 
While those of us who knew Ada Stoiber (Massena Rotary Club members, PDGs, past District Conference Attendees, Rotarians who attended International Conventions with the Stoibers, members of her churches and residences of Massena and Bradenton and of course past Stoiber Scholars) will feel a great sense of loss. It is the future scholars who will have lost the most, for while the Scholarship will live on, they will miss the genuine love and caring Ada had for her scholars.  Ada Stoiber truly lived a life that mattered and she will be greatly missed.