At the July 27 meeting, Chuck Flint had the honor of inducting Rick DePonte as the newest member of the Rotary Club of Mesa, West.  Rick’s wife Donna was with him, as well as Polly Schumacher (his sponsor) standing up front during the induction.
 
Rick was born in Framingham, Massachusetts, and was admitted to practice law in Arizona in 1987.  He received his Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of New Hampshire School of Law in Concord, New Hampshire in 1987.  Prior to that, he had graduated from Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts.  He received a Masters of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University in 1980. 
 
Rick, and his wife, Donna, have been married for 40 years.  They have two adult children, Austin and Taylor, both residing in Seattle.  Donna and Rick enjoy the beach and especially enjoy escaping to Rocky Point whenever they can.  He is a big Arizona team sports fan and a bigger Boston fan, especially the Red Sox. 
 
Rick has a history as a Rotarian.  In about 1992 through 1996, returning to active membership in 2005 through October, 2016, when he was in the Ahwatukee Foothills Rotary Club (President 2010-11).  The club closed in 2014.  After that, he was in the Phoenix Camelback Rotary Club. 1992
 
Donna spoke for a few minutes after Polly “pinned” Rick.  She mentioned that Rick has always loved serving in Rotary and although she’s not a member of Rotary, she has always been there with him.
 
Rick let us know that he is looking forward to working with Mesa West.  He mentioned that the thee extraordinary Rotary thoughts that come to mind have to do with Mesa West::
 
  1. He was a host family for an Rotary Youth Exchange Student through Chuck Flint;
  2. He was involved in the purple pinky project in Hermosillo to help eradicate Polio through Polio Plus.  Don LaBarge was there and instrumental in that project, and
  3. He’s on the Gift of Life Board with many Mesa West members: Chuck Flint, Pam Cohen, Frank Rosenberg and Polly Cady (Rod Daniels used to serve on the GOL board too).
Rick is happy to be with Mesa West and mentioned that he is hard of hearing so don’t be surprised to see him scrambling for a seat at a front table.
 
Rick received a standing ovation after his induction.