Gerry Lambert
District Governor 2019-2020


I was born in the Los Angeles area in the '50s and spent my early years growing up on the West Coast of the US (Washington, Oregon and California).
During the '60s & early '70s, I lived in the San Diego, California area and graduated from High School in El Cajon, California in 1972 where I enjoyed math, science and technology classes, Speech & Debate Club, track & cross-country teams and Scouting/ Order of the Arrow.
After high school, I attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. I graduated in June of 1976, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. It was during college that I met my lovely wife, Susan, and we were married two days after graduation. From there, we began our 21-year military career during which I served as an officer in the Signal Corps and Susan served as a hardworking and devoted military spouse.

Susan and I were fortunate to live and work on what would span three continents. We had many assignments in various locations within the United States, were stationed in Stuttgart, Germany for 4 years and Tageu, Republic of Korea for 2 ½ years. I also served as an ROTC Instructor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, receiving my Masters of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. At the end of my military career, I was assigned the duty of Professor of Military Science I Commander of the Clarkson University ROTC Department in Potsdam, New York. This assignment is what brought me to the North Country and to District 7040 as I joined Rotary during my time at Clarkson.


When we arrived in Potsdam, Susan & I had moved 14 times in 17 years. Although this type of nomadic lifestyle can be hectic & challenging, it provided us with many wonderful opportunities. We learned about various cultures firsthand, formed many lifelong friendships, witnessed history in the making & realized that people worldwide are much more alike than different.
When I retired from the military in 1997, I continued working for three years at Clarkson University as the Director of International and Transfer Admissions. I had the opportunity, through a military program, to become a teacher and as I had always had an interest in this field, decided to change careers. For 14 years I worked as a Science & Technology teacher at Canton High School. I implemented a program called Project Lead the Way which was designed to encourage more young students to become engineers or work in other technology fields. I also received a second Masters of Educational Administration from St. Lawrence University. Concurrently, my wife and I bought a bagel shop in Potsdam which we ran for over ten years, eventually selling the business.

When I worked in Canton, I transferred from the Rotary Club of Potsdam to the Rotary Club of Canton where I have remained a member ever since. It was while l was in the Canton Club that I became Club President and eventually became an Area Governor. I also helped expand a multi-club Rotary camp at Dodge Pond in Clifton-Fine for children with special needs.
Upon retirement from teaching in 2014, I became involved with Volunteer Transportation, Incorporated (a Rotarian-created business) focused on transporting Medicare and Medicaid-eligible clients to medical appointments in the Northern New York area. Within Rotary, 1 also became more involved at the District level and eventually applied and was selected to become the District Governor while also serving as the chair of the District Learning and Development Team.
Additionally, I have become an adjunct faculty member for North Country Community College and teach business courses in a special college program offered at prisons in Northern New York.
I have been blessed with my wife Susan who, like me, has had a long career in the field of education and is currently Director of Special Education for the Massena School District and adjunct professor for North Country Community College. Susan is a member of the Massena Rotary Club and has served as secretary and president. Susan and J have four amazing children. In typical military fashion, our oldest was born in Germany, our second and third were born in Korea and our youngest was born in Virginia. My current interests include anything dealing with technology, gardening, and working together with others to accomplish great things.

I was born in the Los Angeles area in the '50s and spent my early years growing up on the West Coast of the US (Washington, Oregon and California).
During the '60s & early '70s, I lived in the San Diego, California area and graduated from High School in El Cajon, California in 1972 where I enjoyed math, science and technology classes, Speech & Debate Club, track & cross-country teams and Scouting/ Order of the Arrow.
After high school, I attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. I graduated in June of 1976, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. It was during college that I met my lovely wife, Susan, and we were married two days after graduation. From there, we began our 21-year military career during which I served as an officer in the Signal Corps and Susan served as a hardworking and devoted military spouse.

Susan and I were fortunate to live and work on what would span three continents. We had many assignments in various locations within the United States, were stationed in Stuttgart, Germany for 4 years and Tageu, Republic of Korea for 2 ½ years. I also served as an ROTC Instructor at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, receiving my Masters of Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. At the end of my military career, I was assigned the duty of Professor of Military Science I Commander of the Clarkson University ROTC Department in Potsdam, New York. This assignment is what brought me to the North Country and to District 7040 as I joined Rotary during my time at Clarkson.


When we arrived in Potsdam, Susan & I had moved 14 times in 17 years. Although this type of nomadic lifestyle can be hectic & challenging, it provided us with many wonderful opportunities. We learned about various cultures firsthand, formed many lifelong friendships, witnessed history in the making & realized that people worldwide are much more alike than different.
When I retired from the military in 1997, I continued working for three years at Clarkson University as the Director of International and Transfer Admissions. I had the opportunity, through a military program, to become a teacher and as I had always had an interest in this field, decided to change careers. For 14 years I worked as a Science & Technology teacher at Canton High School. I implemented a program called Project Lead the Way which was designed to encourage more young students to become engineers or work in other technology fields. I also received a second Masters of Educational Administration from St. Lawrence University. Concurrently, my wife and I bought a bagel shop in Potsdam which we ran for over ten years, eventually selling the business.

When I worked in Canton, I transferred from the Rotary Club of Potsdam to the Rotary Club of Canton where I have remained a member ever since. lt was while l was in the Canton Club that I became Club President and eventually became an Area Governor. I also helped expand a multi-club Rotary camp at Dodge Pond in Clifton-Fine for children with special needs.
Upon retirement from teaching in 2014, I became involved with Volunteer Transportation, Incorporated (a Rotarian-created business) focused on transporting Medicare and Medicaid-eligible clients to medical appointments in the Northern New York area. Within Rotary, 1 also became more involved at the District level and eventually applied and was selected to become the District Governor while also serving as the chair of the District Learning and Development Team.
Additionally, I have become an adjunct faculty member for North Country Community College and teach business courses in a special college program offered at prisons in Northern New York.
I have been blessed with my wife Susan who, like me, has had a long career in the field of education and is currently Director of Special Education for the Massena School District and adjunct professor for North Country Community College. Susan is a member of the Massena Rotary Club and has served as secretary and president. Susan and J have four amazing children. In typical military fashion, our oldest was born in Germany, our second and third were born in Korea and our youngest was born in Virginia. My current interests include anything dealing with technology, gardening, and working together with others to accomplish great things.