HONESDALE, PA — A permanent memorial to Warren Schloesser, a longtime Honesdale Rotary member, was installed at Honesdale’s Apple Grove Park on Sunday, October 25, one day shy of the anniversary of his death a year earlier. Close to 30 people, including Schloesser’s children and grandchildren, gathered around a newly built picnic table with a plaque thanking Schloesser for his dedication to the Rotary for 47 years. 

Rotary president James Hamill recalled Schloesser’s life of service to his community and to the Honesdale club. “Warren pioneered the induction of women into the Honesdale club. One of the first two women, Maureen Beilman, is still a member today.”

Hamill and several others, including Hawley Rotarian Juan Espino, recounted numerous instances of Schloesser’s volunteerism in the community, including planting the apple trees around the picnic table to replace ones that had died off.  Schloesser was also instrumental in the founding of the Wayne County Community Foundation, the Leadership Wayne Program at the Northern Poconos Chamber, the Honesdale Rotary’s International Dinner and many other Rotary fundraisers and events.  Espino talked fondly of Schloesser’s Sunday “newsletters” and Diane Kean, Schloesser’s longtime partner, touched on how Schloesser would tidy up public gardens—unasked but compelled to help.

Schloesser was an Army Veteran; an Eagle Scout; a member of many boards, including the Dorflinger Wildlife Sanctuary; and the recipient of numerous awards. 

After a brief ceremony, the crowd enjoyed apple cider, one of Schloesser’s favorite drinks, and someone remarked, “When people sit down at this picnic table, there’s a good chance one of them will have known Warren—he rode his bike everywhere and always stopped to help when needed.”