Through the Rotary Club of Clarkston, Mary Sloan gets to travel around the world, serving humanity. It also found her a husband and a new hometown.
‘I met my husband (Jeff Lichty) through Rotary ? he was president of the club. He saw me as a new recruit,? Sloan said.
After their wedding, they moved to Independence Township in 2004 from Davisburg, where she had been living since 1975.
‘I love Clarkston,? she said. ‘I like downtown, it’s cozy ? I live on 10 acres in the country, and with the city, I have it all.?
Retiring after 37 years as a teacher and with two grown children, Melissa Gedraitis and Chip Sloan, she was looking for something to do.
‘I went to visit my tax preparer and we were talking ? I said I was thinking of going to Honduras to help build houses. She said I needed to join Rotary.?
Her first impression ? Rotary needed her too.
‘There was only one other woman in the club at the time (in 1999),? she said. ‘They needed structure.?
She went on Rotary trips to Grenada, Peru, and India, and is planning a trip to Kenya in the spring.
‘We link up with Rotary Clubs there,? she said. ‘In Grenada, they had a little Rotary Club, with 15 people. We brought 4,000 pairs of eyeglasses, and were able to help more than 1,200 people.?
She served as Rotary president in 2002.
‘It was fun ? a good experience,? she said. ‘It was the first time I had ever done anything like that.?
She was an elementary school teacher with Bloomfield Hills, 10 years as a third- and fourth-grade teacher, and 27 years teaching special education.
‘I always liked working with children who were falling behind,? said Sloan. ‘It was great ? I would have taught forever if not for Rotary.?
She also taught in New Jersey and Massachusetts for a year each ? her husband at the time was in the military and she taught wherever they were stationed.
As a retired teacher, she volunteers with Oakland Literacy Council and Oakland Family Services.
She grew up in Troy before I-75 was built through it.
‘It was all farms,? she said.
She graduated from Troy High School and was in the charter class at Oakland University, graduating in 1963 with a degree in education. She also earned a master’s degree in reading.
‘At a Rotary International convention in Salt Lake City, I ran into someone who went to my high school who now lives in New Zealand ? it’s a small world,? she said.
Clarkston Rotary meets Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Deer Lake Athletic Club, 6167 White Lake Road.