Update: On Friday July 19, 2019, our Sterling Heights Rotary President, Todd McKay, took a moment out of his day to accompany the immediate family members, of our late Rotarian John Joyce, to show present to them the tree that was planted in memory of John Joyce's service and dedication to Rotary. John's daughter, Karen Joyce, and his wife, Joyce Joyce joined Todd McKay on this warm and humid Friday to view the tree (pictured above). Thank you to the Joyce family for their continued dedication to the mission of Rotary! 
 
On Thursday, May 16, 2019, members of the Sterling Heights Rotary Club gathered at Gerald N. Donovan Park in Sterling Heights, for the planting of a tree in honor and memory of longtime Rotarian John Joyce. The tree is an Ivory Silk Lilac tree which will add beauty, shade and enhance the overall park for generations to come. The tree was planted to honor John Joyce's contributions to the Rotary Club of Sterling Heights.  John passed away at the age of 82 on July 27, 2017.
 
After earning his Masters degree from the University of Michigan, John Joyce went on to work for 35 years as a Computer Research Engineer for the General Motors Research Lab. 
 
John Joyce was a proud Rotarian and truly lived by the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”  John had been a long-term member of the Rotary Club of Sterling Heights especially devoted to the Club's major water project, providing clean water through the Biosands water filtration system to hundreds of families in Bonao in the Dominican Republic.  John participated in the raising of hundreds of thousands of dollars towards the water project and he personally visited the Dominican Republic on multiple occasions, at his own expense, to oversee the operations.  Through the journey with the Global water projects, he and his wife, Joyce Joyce, were avid world travelers visiting all 50 states and 71 different countries.
 
John was also active in Rotary at the District level, working as the District Webmaster, as well as serving in that capacity for the Rotary Club of Sterling Heights.  John and his wife Joyce traveled to Rotary clubs all over the state and country to raise funds for their Dominican Republic water projects but also to help other clubs participate in and support the efforts of this project. 
 
Although John is missed by his fellow Rotarians, he will never be forgotten and his commitment to worldwide community service through the water projects has reduced the infant mortality rate and enhanced the health and quality of life for thousands of people.  Thank you John Joyce for all you have done to serve the Rotary Club of Sterling Heights and the world at large!