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Rotary Club loses pioneering member
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Posted on Sep 06 2017
The Rotary Club of Saipan experienced a great loss following the death of one of its longest serving members, Oliver Wayne “Pete” Shilling, who lost his life battling cancer over a week ago.
Rotary Club members were generous in paying tribute to Shilling, saying he will forever be remembered in the hearts of his fellow Rotarians and his friends and family.
One of Shilling’s closest friends, business partner, and fellow Rotarian Ivan Ilmov told Saipan Tribune that Shilling was a fighter just as much as he was generous.
Ilmov shared that this was actually Shilling’s fourth battle with cancer and that Shilling fought as hard as he could.
He also praised Shilling for being also extremely generous when it came to helping the less fortunate. “[He was] one of the brightest, most honest persons on Saipan. He was always ready to help,” said Ilmov.
He said that Shilling was a huge supporter of the Rotary International Polio Program, which combats polio around the world by providing vaccines for children.
According to Ilmov, the polio program is one of the biggest Rotary International programs and Shilling was always one of Saipan’s biggest advocates. Every year, Shilling would donate to the program.
Shilling was a member of the Rotary Club for over 20 years. He was one of the pioneers of the club here on Saipan and was the first president of the local Rotary Club.
“He was in the club for more than 20 years. He was a member before in Guam and in Palau. All those years, as a Rotarian, he was very generous,” said Ilmov.
According to Ilmov, the loss of Shilling will leave a void in all the hearts of the people who knew him.
“We miss him a lot. It’s a huge loss for everyone who knew him,” he said.
Shilling, 73, is survived by his wife, Lucia Norita Shilling, and four children: Daniel William Shilling, Christina Ruth Shilling, Kimberly Barnes Yamauchi, and Kevin Eric Norita Barnes.
Shilling’s siblings, James Shilling and Barbara H. Lynch, also survive him.
