Belleville and the Quinte region as a whole has lost a community pillar who will be missed.
 
Many citizens and dignitaries are dealing with the loss of businessman and author Maurice Rollins who died on Thursday at the age of 94.
 
The loss was certainly felt at United Way-Hastings Prince Edward, where Rollins -- the founder of Rollins Construction and the long-running Journey's End motel chain was a fervent supporter.
 
United Way Executive Director Brandi Hodge talked about the effect Rollins' generosity had on her organization.
 
"He believed that he could really leverage his contributions to make an even greater impact on the community by creating his matching program", said Hodge.  "He was more than a donor.  He was a partner, he was very invested in where those funds went and the changes that they made in the community."
 
The United Way created the Maurice Rollins Leadership Challenge matching program -- now known as the Friends & Leaders Challenge -- which has raised at least $2.5 million for the local United Way since its inception in 2008.
 
Rollins also told many stories that volunteers and staff with United Way Hastings Prince Edward had the privilege to hear -- Hodge reflected on fond memories in knowing the local business icon.
 
"His willingness to share that with our community was humbling.  We thoroughly enjoyed getting to know him and listening to the stories -- the stories he has of this community are really rich.  Having someone like Mr. Rolllins standing behind the United Way campaign means far more than the financial contributions that he made."  
 
One memory Hodge recounted of Rollins was when he built the Anchorage building when a lot of people said he shouldn't.

What resulted from there was Rollins turning on the lights of the empty Anchorage to make it look like people wanted to be in it.
 
Hodge said Rollins' name has become a part of her organization now and for years to come.
 
"In January, we re-named our building the Maurice Rollins Centre.  Because of the pandemic, he wasn't able to come out and join that ceremony, but he was certainly aware of it."
 
Hodge continued, "The matching program -- we will wait and see what that looks like, but his name will forever live on in our organization."  

Another organization that was touched by Rollins’ generosity over the years was the Belleville General Hospital Foundation.

Executive Director Steve Cook praised Rollins for going above and beyond to support the Foundation’s goals and accomplishments with leadership gifts.

Notable donations include one towards the MRI Campaign in 2017 and a $150,000 contribution to the Regional Nuclear Medicine Campaign, which inspired further donations to get that campaign up and running.

“I consider myself fortunate realistically that I got to know Maurice over the past three years,” Cook said.

“Whilst obviously, we're all sad today, it's probably an opportunity realistically to just reflect on the amazing contributions that he's made to Belleville, and the wider community, not just in healthcare, but all the causes that he's so generously supported throughout the years.”

Cook shared stories of meeting Rollins for the first time when he came to Quinte from the UK and sitting in his lounge reading the book written about him “The Remarkable Journey of Maurice Rollins.”

“We shared some lovely moments chatting, sometimes over a glass of gin, which was a particular favorite of his and obviously, something that he gave to me at Christmas time, just to say a huge thank you for your support.”

Cook added Rollins’ whole approach to philanthropy was something unique and special about him.

“Maurice was a prime example of somebody who was a self-starter,” he explained.

“As a young man, who, as we've all read, experienced his own battles in life, whether that was severe depression or anxiety, and really made something from his life,” Cook continued.

“Some people choose to keep that to themselves. But Maurice chose to use his wealth for the good of everybody else around him, whether that's friends or family or community members.”

Executive Director of the Enrichment Centre for Mental Health Sandie Sidsworth offered condolences and memories of Rollins to InQuinte.ca on behalf of the centre.

Sidsworth said the impact of his generosity and support reverberates inside and outside the facility and through its programs.

"The sign right outside the door is the Maurice Rollins Centre of Hope," she explained. 

"(Through that), we got to do our community counselling (program), and out of that, our Health and Masculinity group has evolved. Positive Masculinity is a new group that is coming down the pipe, about creating a safe space for men to talk about their wellness. That's his impact."

Sidsworth said she will remember Rollins for his kind and caring nature and for leading by example.

"I remember we had taken some folks and set them up to go to the Salvation Army Christmas dinner," she explained.

"I walked in and there was a whole family coming in, including Maurice. It's the grace and action - he was a man of grace."

Hodge summed up Rollins’ work ethic and legacy.

“This is a man who, up until he was 92, still showed up to his office every single day before the pandemic hit. This is a man that deserves to rest and it’s probably the first time since I’ve known him that he ever has.”