A true example of service above self
29 March 1949-16 August 2022
Tributes have flowed in for Kenton resident and lifelong Rotarian Pippa Steele-Gray, who passed away last week. Pippa and her husband Bruce have been core members of Rotary Kenton-onSea for many years. We share a tribute by her fellow Rotarians:
Pippa was born in Nairobi, Kenya, where she lived with her parents in the Ngong Hills. After primary school she went to high school in England, then Rhodes University where, on her first day, Bruce pulled a chair out for her at the general lecture theatre (GLT) – and the rest was history.
Growing up, she spent her happiest times in the bush, particularly in the Mara, where as a young man her father, Roy, was the veterinary surgeon.
Bruce and Pippa married in 1973 at a time when they were both teaching in Queenstown (now Komani). After a call from Bruce’s dad, they moved to Kenton in 1976 to join the family business in real estate and construction. Pippa became the champion letting agent in Kenton!
Bruce and Pippa were blessed to share many of their special delights: the bush and everything in it – birds and goggas particularly. Sailing was a special passion and in later years, she became a very competent artist.
Pippa was a totally committed Rotarian. She was particularly involved with the portfolio of public image and travelled as far as Kigali, in Rwanda, in pursuit of excellence. As the Rotary District Governor’s Rotary Ann, she was responsible for support of all the Rotary Anne clubs.
This she did with her usual energy and and love
and the messages from all those clubs bear testimony to how much she was appreciated. Her bequest to Rotary International will now become a reality.
Her death on Tuesday 16 August was sudden and unexpected. She leaves her husband, Bruce, and their two children, Richard and Caro, and their families.
Speaking on behalf of the club, Rotary Kenton-onSea director of public image, Dave Howard, said “Rotary mourns the loss of Pippa. She was a Rotary superhero. She lived her life for Rotary – a true example of service above self.”
The club posted on their Facebook page: “There are some who bring a light so great to the world that even after they have gone the light remains… Pippa Steele-Gray may your light shine in all of us… Rest in Peace, Pippa. Rotary has lost a true humanitarian, a lover of nature, all things great and small, someone who lived for others.”