Dear Club Members,
It is with great sadness we announce the death of Rotarian Robert “Rock” Lantz.
Rock passed away in the early hours this morning, Jan. 3, finally succumbing to his long battle with Myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood disorder. A proud Vietnam veteran, Rock’s illness was believed to be related to his exposure to Agent Orange during his Air Force service. He was 76.
Rock joined our club on Dec. 1, 1992. He was a Paul Harris Fellow, our Rotarian of the Year in 2002, served as our club President for the 2011-12 Rotary year, and was honored with our A. Monroe Courtright Public Service Award in 2016. He also served as president of our Harris-Askins House Board.
An accountant, Rock was the owner of Robert B. Lantz CPA & Associates. He also was a three-year trustee of the Westerville’s Post 7883 the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a longtime board member of Honor Flight Columbus and Honor Flight Westerville, where he helped the committee raise more than $450,000 to fund flights for more than 650 veterans. He personally served as guardian for 26 veterans on 16 different flights to see their memorials in Washington, D.C. Rock was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame in 2016.
Rock is survived by wife Diana, daughters Lori, Kelly and Stacy, and several grandchildren. Cremation is planned, and due to Covid concerns, no public services are scheduled at present. A Celebration of Life memorial service is planned at a future date, with details to be announced.
Video of Rock Lance’s 2016 induction into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame, along with Westerville Sunrise Rotarian Ron Pusateri.
Video by Dennis Blair.