The Parkway Rotary Club of West Roxbury and Roslindale held its first annual Marilyn LaRosa Memorial Scholarship luncheon at West on Centre in West Roxbury. From all of the applications received, two scholarships were awarded. The scholarship was renamed for long time Rotarian Chairperson Marilyn LaRosa who passed away after a long battle with cancer.Marilyn LaRosa was a local Rotarian and humanitarian. She was also the owner of LaRosa Real Estate. In her memory, the Parkway Rotary Club of West Roxbury and Roslindale have renamed their education scholarship the Marilyn LaRosa Memorial Scholarship.
This year’s recipients are exemplars of the Parkway’s scholars and humanitarians. First, there is Liam McDonough of West Roxbury. He attended Boston College High School and was active in Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track, and he participated in Holy Name Parish Youth Services. He is planning to attend Villanova University in the fall majoring in electrical engineering. When asked about the scholarship, Liam said, “I am really thankful for this.”
Next is Francis Rose of West Roxbury. He attended Roxbury Latin School and was co-president of Habitat for Humanity and President of the Ecology Club. He also participated in the Glee Club and varsity Football, Basketball, and Lacrosse. He was a Peer Minister at St. Theresa Parish. He is planning to attend Bowdoin College where he will study Economics and Spanish.
Rotary International and its mission of Service Above Self was a lifelong passion of Marilyn’s. She has the distinguished honor of being the Parkway Rotary Club’s first female president after Rotary removed its limitation that all members must be men during the 1980’s. This also made her the first female president in Rotary’s District 7930, which is comprised of over 45 cities and towns from Boston up to the border of New Hampshire. Furthermore, Marilyn was the chair of the Scholarship Committee for the past ten years. At the May 2 meeting, the Parkway Rotary Board unanimously agreed to change the name in memoriam.
At the luncheon, Marilyn was represented by her husband Sal LaRosa and their son John LaRosa.
Sal LaRosa said, "Rotary was a big part of Marilyn's life and she always enjoyed helping people."
Applicants for the scholarship must be residents of Roslindale or West Roxbury. These students must be currently enrolled in a high school program at any public or private school. Scholarships are awarded based on need, leadership qualities, community, and citizenship activities as well as scholastic performance.