Dr. Ross Willink turned 100 years old last week, and the community celebrated.
Many people recognize the name Willink not necessarily because of the man, but because of the school that bears his name, Willink Middle School on Publisher’s Parkway. Dr. Willink served as superintendent of the Webster School District from 1968 to 1981, and when the middle school was built in 2001, it was named in his honor to recognize his years of dedicated service.
But his service to the community, and to our country, has not been confined to his work with the schools. Willink is a WWII U.S. Navy veteran and started his post-war career as a teacher and administrator in Buffalo-area schools. He was superintendent of the East Irondequoit School District from 1964 to 1968 before becoming the Webster CSD Supervisor.
Dr. Willink joined the Webster Rotary Club in August 1975, was president of the club, and has received multiple Paul Harris Fellow awards, the highest, the most prestigious way the Rotary says “Thank you” for outstanding, exemplary achievement to the needs of the world.
Last Tuesday, July 22, Dr. Willink turned 100 years old, and in honor of the occasion, family and friends gathered on the 20th for a big celebration at Camp Eastman in Irondequoit. A second party was held the day after his birthday, when family, friends, and fellow Rotarians from the Webster Rotary Club hosted a party at the weekly Wellness on Wednesday (W.O.W.) meeting at Immanuel Lutheran Church in the Village of Webster.
I couldn’t attend either party, but former Webster Mayor Bll Ruoff, who was present at the W.O.W. celebration, was kind enough to send me a photo (above) and his thoughts.
The mood of the day was festive, uplifting, cheerful and very attentive, witnessed by the appearance of Don Alhart, long-time Rotarian from the Webster Rotary Club, well-known regional broadcaster for televisions Channel 13, who interviewed Mr. Willink. … Another official from the Rotary area (District 7120) was Jack Best, former District Governor and District Director who joined the assemblage to congratulate Dr. Willink; it was Jack Best who found out that Ross Willink is the only one from the thousands of Rotarians in District 7120 who is an active Rotary member at age 100.
Guests enjoyed lunch, topped off with a whipped cream-layered white chocolate cake decorated with various phases from Dr. Willink’s life story (prepared at Wegmans by a former Willink Middle School student), and an ice cream cake from the Goodie Shoppe in the Village of Webster.
The afternoon’s celebration was featured that evening on Channel 13’s “Bright Spot” segment. Click here to see that story.
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(posted 8/1/2025)
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