Evan Kurtz

Rotary Club of Dryden, NY
Rotary District 7170

Evan joined Rotary in October, 2006 as a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Dryden NY. He served as club President twice, 09-10 and 17-18, Treasurer for 4 years, and Membership Chair. At the District level he served as Assistant District Governor for Area #6 as well as Foundation Area Director His is also an RLI Faculty member and has been on numerous District committees. In 2010 Evan participated in a National Immunization Day (NID) in India and somewhere along the line he realized he had changed from being a member of Rotary to being a Rotarian. His Rotary journey continues as he moves toward being Governor of District 7170 in the Rotary year 21-22 

He has been an active volunteer all his life. He started as a YMCA Junior Leader, put in 20 years of community soccer (coach, ref, player, league official…), and was Scout Master of Troop 24 for 7 years. He helped start the Dryden Community Center Café (not for profit, volunteer run) and was involved thru it’s 12 year existence.  Somewhere in there was 7 years as a race director and board member of the Finger Lakes Runners Club. He has also served as treasurer and board member of the Dryden Youth Opportunity Fund since 2004. He blames his mother for this.

Career wise, he has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University and did graduate studies at Tufts University (all but the thesis, life takes strange turns…). After a long a varied career (ask him if you have a few hours to spend), primarily involved with radars, he stumbled into retirement in the spring of 2018. Outside of work he has always been a DIY’er around the house (one rehab and two large additions) and continues by being involved with Tompkins-Cortland Habitat for Humanity and the Finger Lakes ReUse Center. He is also involved with lobbying for Medical Aid in Dying legislation in NYS.

Evan’s wife, and high school sweetheart, and life partner, Tracy is also a Charter Member of the Dryden Rotary club, Past President (10-11 and 11-12), and apparently Executive Secretary for life. Tracy retired from teaching Special Ed and Reading in the Dryden High School in June of 2017. Together they reared their 3 children (Emily, Jacob, Jennie) who all successfully ‘launched’ into the adult world, and they are looking forward to the continual spoiling of their 3 grandchildren; Max (7), Jackson (5), and Lucy (4).