Tributes

In Memoriam – Carol “Mort” Eliason

Mort officially became a member of the DeAnza Lions Club in 2013. Even before that though, she presented annual Flag Day activities at a number of elementary schools, as well as participating in the Lion’s food drive, the golf tournament and the crab feed. For her spirited form of Lionism and dedication to volunteerism, Mort was bestowed several accolades and awards from the club including a Lifetime Membership to the Blind Center and a Melvin Jones Fellow Award.

In addition to her Lions activities, Mort enjoyed a successful career as an educator and speech therapist in the Moreland School District, retiring after many years of dedicated service. After retirement, Mort regularly read and volunteered in the elementary schools of her grandchildren. She was a long-standing member of the Cupertino Bethel Lutheran congregation and a member of the Red Hat Society.

Mort will be fondly remembered for her contagious love of dancing, adoration of friends and family, volunteerism in our Lions Club, hosting Lions gatherings, her seasonal decorations around the house and always spreading cheer to those around her.

In Memoriam – Philip Lellman

Philip Lellman joined the Cupertino De Anza Lions Club on February 1, 1976 at the age of 38. He was one of our most loyal members with an attendance record that included making almost all meetings, attending every single fund-raising activity, and never being late in meeting his financial obligations to the club.

When Covid hit in late 2019, Lion Phil suffered some health issues and his attendance faltered for the first time. The Board of Directors, aware of his circumstance, and noticing in 2022 that he was in arrears with paying his dues, requested the treasurer to allow the Club to cover any future financial obligations. Sadly, visitations were limited during the pandemic. We learned about his passing on August 21, 2023, from his son, Paul Lellman.

Ironically, the financial records indicate that Lion Phil had paid his dues in full up t the month of his passing. The club has received a detailed letter from Paul, explaining more about Phil and the circumstances of his death, but the last sentence is a tribute to the nature of Lion Phil: “If my dad left with a balance owing the tail twister I apologize, but he probably spent the money at the Donut Wheel”.

Forty-five years and four months as a DeAnza Lion … several fellow lions would be ale to add to these lines. It was Lion Phil and Lion Bob Moorman that dragged me (Lion Al) up to Camp Costanoan (now Via West Campus) in 1979. Lion Phil was an impetus for the DeAnza Lions Endowment Fund and worked tirelessly on Habitat for Humanity.

We will miss Lion Phil!

We have sent condolences to his wife and son and wish them the best.

Respectfully submitted, with Love and Admiration

Lion Al Knox

In Memoriam – John Noone

July 20, 1953 – August 16, 2018
Loving Husband, Devoted Father & Community Servant

$3070

Donations received in memory of Lion John so far

Bio

John Noone, born in 1953 in Detroit Michigan. Bay Area resident for the majority of his lifetime. He grew up with his father George, a teacher and school administrator; his mother, Mollie, a substitute teacher and singer and younger brother, Charles (nicknamed Chick) in the Oakland Hills. He spent his childhood playing violin in the Oakland Conservatory of Music. In 1970 the family moved to Redwood City, California.

John attended San Jose State University for both his Undergraduate degree in Mathematics (1975) and Graduate degree in Computer Science in 1977.

He married his college sweetheart, Leslye Melton in 1978. The two had met 6 years before and have been inseparable ever since. John and Leslye have been long time residents of Cupertino since 1980. They had 3 children: Chris(1981), Veronica (1983) & Chelsea (1985).

Retired, he had been a Software Engineer primarily in the defense and aerospace industries. He loved playing & coaching soccer, swimming & running, having completed several marathos, most recently the Boston Marathon in 2010. He also loved traveling. John valued continual learning, staying up to date on current events and science news.

John was very active in the Cupertino De Anza Lions Club as a member for 10 years. The most recent event he was involved with was called the Ride 4 Diabetes, a bike race to be held in May. He was a loving husband and always put his family before his own needs. his relativs live in CA, NY, IL, and MA.

A quick message – wanted you to know that I just donated $100 to DeAnza Lions Club in memory of John Noone. I met John and Leslye in college, before they were even dating! Since then, I’ve been through a lot with them. We’ve “grown up” together, and John and Les have been like my siblings. I was in their wedding, I held all three of their children as babies, and they have helped me through thick and thin. John was always so proud of his Lions affiliation and the various projects he was involved in for your organization. There was never a time when we were together in recent years, when John didn’t mention the Lions. In fact, one Christmas, we gave John a big bag full of our old glasses to bring back to Cupertino. (Don’t tell the Elk Grove Lions that!!!) The memorial service and gathering at the house, with the stories of John’s involvement and commitment to community service energized me. I have to add that Leslye did the same while talking about Lions, John, and the Project Linus during the weekend after John’s sudden passing, when I drove in to join the family in grief. I am looking into the Lions Club here in Elk Grove as a result. I thank you all, Lions and Lionesses, and especially John Noone, for his (your) service.

Sincerely, Wendy Roberts, Elk Grove

Wendy L RobertsAug 30th, 2018

In Memoriam – Carol “Mort” Eliason

In Memoriam – Philip Lellman

In Memoriam – John Noone

July 20, 1953 – August 16, 2018
Loving Husband, Devoted Father & Community Servant

Bio

Tributes

Cupertino DeAnza Lions Charities, Inc.

Donate

Lions Clubs International News

Tributes

In Memoriam – Carol “Mort” Eliason

In Memoriam – Philip Lellman

In Memoriam – John Noone July 20, 1953 – August 16, 2018 Loving Husband, Devoted Father & Community Servant

Bio

Tributes

Cupertino DeAnza Lions Charities, Inc.

Follow us

Donate

Lions Clubs International News

In Memoriam – John Noone

July 20, 1953 – August 16, 2018
Loving Husband, Devoted Father & Community Servant