Paul Dobiecki

Inspired by family and friends who served our country through military service, Paul became the Rotary Club’s Co-Chair of the Ronkonkoma Run Around the Lake when it transitioned in 2011 to honor Medal of Honor recipient Navy LT Michael Murphy. Michael served as a lifeguard at Lake Ronkonkoma. Paul’s creative and energetic machinations were key to raising the Run from 400 participants to over 4000 participants and to raising its annual financial success to over $150,000 each year. In Rotary tradition, all funds raised go to charities – and well over half of all funds now are dedicated to Veterans causes.

Paul was the architect and served as a Museum Board member of the LT Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum/Sea Cadet Training Facility in West Sayville New York. Paul also designed a beautiful and moving monument to the men of Operation Red Wings, the 2005 mission in Afghanistan in which LT Murphy served heroically. That monument, funded by the Ronkonkoma Club, now sits at Islip’s MacArthur Airport.

In his years with Rotary and the causes associated with the LT Michael Murphy Navy Seal Museum, Paul also made service to our Veterans through the Run into a family affair as his wife Sherrie and daughters Michelle, Stephanie, and Rachel have been active volunteers in the Run and associated events. While Paul’s sudden passing in 2020 left his family and Rotary friends with a heavy heart, we take solace that Paul’s Spirit will live on forever.