Bob and Shirley Otterman receive Helen Keller Fellowship award

By Sheila Phibbs

The Haldimand Press

TOWNSEND—In 1925, Helen Keller addressed members attending the Lions International Convention and posed the question, “Will you not help me hasten the day when there shall be no preventable blindness; no little deaf, blind child untaught; no blind man or woman unaided?” The Lions accepted her challenge to become “knights of the blind in a crusade against the darkness” with the organization helping people with vision problems worldwide.

The Lions later established Lions Homes for Deaf People to support children and deaf people of all ages. The Helen Keller Fellowship is an award that enables Lions Clubs to recognize citizens for their “untiring service”. This fall, the Fisherville Lions presented the Helen Keller Fellowship to Bob and Shirley Otterman, long-time contributors to their community.

Bob is what Shirley refers to as a “fixture of Fisherville”. She explains, “He was born, raised, churched, educated, and worked in Fisherville.” In fact, the only time Bob wasn’t in Fisherville was during his time in the army. Bob served during the Second World War and was involved in the liberation of Holland as part of the Highland Light Infantry. He has travelled to Holland several times through the years and attended the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of liberation. He says, “The Dutch people never really forget the Canadians.”

While Bob was overseas, Shirley was at home awaiting his return. She wrote to him regularly and Bob says, “I made up my mind that I was coming back.” He did indeed come back in 1946 and they married the following year. They raised four children and enjoy several grand and great-grandchildren. All the while, they were active in the community through work and volunteering. A wood worker by trade, Bob operated a wood shop and lawn and garden equipment business where he appreciated getting to know everyone in the community, including the area farmers who came in for repairs. Shirley adds, “He is a Master Wood Turner and very creative. He’s a lover of fine wood.”