John Uth
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of John Uth, Co-Founder and
Chairman of the Board of Alliance for Smiles. John's leadership impacted the lives of literally thousands of children born with cleft lips and palates.
He had vision and used his talents and all his personal skills - including his great charm - to advance AfS. He will be remembered for a long, long time.
He left a legacy that will live far beyond his passing.
If you would like to help sponsor a mission to Tanzania which will be held in honor and memory of John, please click here or contact the office.
We invite you to use forum below to share your comments and memories about John so that they may be shared with all of his family and friends.
Comments
What an amazing man,
He dedicated his life and passion to the less fortunate and this is what makes him so amazing. like many of us he did something about this issue. His work speaks volumes. He did not have to be a doctor to fulfill his dream , but by teaming up with the incredible talented medial staff and volunteers he brought smiles to many.
John I hope you are enjoying happy hour right now. God Bless and thank you for showing me a thing or two.
Warmest regards,
Joe & Angelica Souza
I just heard this sad news, but coming to the AfS website and seeing the pages of adoring sentiment... I think John would be very pleased and honored. What a testament to his life and character. Thank you John for being a great leader and a model of positivity. Clearly, you are and will be dearly missed.
Shelly Dougherty
He is all that everyone has said here. He was a most strong supporter at a moment in my own times as president of the San Francisco Rotary Club when I needed encouragement.
His death is a loss for us all, but I think especially for his family. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Jim (Emerson)
I was so sad to hear the news about John. He was such a kind and compassionate man who will be missed by so many. My heart goes out to his family and friends.
Linda Wolff
John Uth was a great man.
John was a lover of people. He adored his family, wife Elizabeth, daughters Patti and Diane, his sons-in-law, grandchildren, his brothers, cousins and nephews.
He constantly inspired his co-founder, staff and volunteers of Alliance for Smiles. He greeted all his Rotary friends with warmth and a twinkle in his eye. John was on a mission.
He was a great man.
John loved his country and his world. He wanted to make things better for this country's and the world's impoverished children. He helped to make parks safe for children to play, he wanted to put a smile on each child with a cleft lip or palate, defects which would have made the children's life miserable in their own countries He succeeded in helping thousands.
Anywhere a child needed help John chose to go - China, Bangladesh, Africa, Chile and other places all over the globe.
John was a great man.
John encouraged others to walk in his footsteps. His ambition to help his fellow citizens of the world was a passion which he had until the day he died.
John was a great man.
We will not see his like again but we can follow his lead and help others when we see need. We can get out there and do things for our community, for our country and for the world. John created miracles. We can as well.
John was a Great, Great Man!
Mary Ellen
Thanks, Joe, for sharing this nice tribute to a truly admirable man. We are fortunate to meet in Rotary many such wonderful human beings whose thoughts and actions make us humble and inspire us to do what little we can for our neighbor and the perfection of the world.
matc
I will dearly miss John's smile and positive vibe. His legacy is something to be admired and will live on forever.
God Bless and rest in peace.
Tom
Dear John,
I'm very saddened about the pasing of our good friend. You have always inpired me with your positive outlook to the many challenges in life and I will always remember your smile. I also will remember your support to the many projects with your enthusiams . I will miss you very much!!
Peter Haeberlin
Dear John,
Thank you. Thank you for showing me how to live and how to end. You are a role model and I will forever remember you and your examplary life. Most of all, I will miss your boyish smile. Love, Danielle
I'M TRULY SADDENED BY JOHN'S PASSING. THE ONLY THING THAT COULD SURPASS JOHN'S OWN SMILE WAS THE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN'S SMILES THAT HE HELPED CREATE FOR ROTAPLAST AND A.F.S. IT WAS A PLEASURE AND AN HONOR WORKING WITH HIM. HE AND HIS GREAT SMILE WILL TRULY BE MISSED BY ALL.... JIM GALLOWAY
"You are the best John." Thank you for all the wonderful things you did for the least fortunate. You will always be remembered!
He would say – “Jim, you’re the Best” - I would say – “No John – You’re the Best”. We will miss The Best; his humor, his smile, and his love for kids and wanting to make imperfect kids perfect. From Metal Working to Face Fixing – John was the Best and he made it all happen with his leadership, vision, love and many friends. We will need a bridge larger than the Golden Gate to span this loss. Maybe his passing is what caused the sun to go dark before it set over the Golden Gate yesterday evening. You never know - John will be missed but we shall keep his star rising in the sky.
Jim and Jo Patrick
Dear Anita, everyone at Alliance for Smiles, and John's family,
We mourn with you the passing of this extraordinary man. On behalf of everyone at ReSurge International, please accept our heartfelt condolences on his passing.
Susan Hayes
President & CEO
ReSurge International
John Uth is Duke's God father.
Duke & I will miss John and the donation in his memory is a small gesture of our love and respect for him.
Rosey Wong
It is a real sadness to learn of John passing away. His dedication to serve others was obvious to me when I first met him at the San Antonio 2001 Rotary International Convention, in preparation to the Rotaplast mission to Caracas Venezuela that year. At the mission his leadership and eagerness to see operations at San Juan de Dios Children Hospital in Caracas to flow smoothly and with efficiency, impressed me. His warm fellowship with our team from Rotary Club El Paraiso during every evenings at the Tamanaco Hotel, was so motivating to get ready for next day early, to continue our work following his example. John left a great impression among the venezuelans who worked with him, we are going to miss him as I am sure you will too. The Tanzania mission on his honor I am sure will add stamina to your efforts and will in the missions to come. Please give my sympathy to John's family and friends.
With love: Pedro A. Figueroa, Caracas Venezuela
John was a rare human being. He had vision and passion combined with judgment and a practical sense of reality.
He loved and cared for people. His passing is sad for his family, his friends, all people at AfS, and, particularly, for the hundreds of people who will miss the benefits of his giving life. The world has lost a true humanitarian and powerful force for Good.
Jim and Jean Deitz
I am sad to hear the news about John.
He was a great man and made many valuable contributions.
He will be remembered around the world for his efforts to give every child a smile.
Best wishes,
Nigel
I'm so sorry to hear of John's passing. Indeed it's a great loss for AFS. The world is a sadder and emptier place when a good man dies. Hopefully, the memories of his work and contributions will live on.
Warm regards, Helen
He exemplified true compassion and genuine love for those less fortunate. He will be missed.
Tina Hollcroft
He would say – “Jim, you’re the Best” - I would say – “No John – You’re the Best”. We will miss The Best; his humor, his smile, and his love for kids and wanting to make imperfect kids perfect. From Metal Working to Face Fixing – John was the Best and he made it all happen with his leadership, vision, love and many friends. We will need a bridge larger than the Golden Gate to span this loss. Maybe his passing is what caused the sun to go dark before it set over the Golden Gate Sunday evening. You never know - John will be missed but we shall keep his star rising in the sky.
Jim and Jo Patrick
What an angel he was; and what a sense of humor too. His presence will be missed but it looks like he will be of service on the other side.
I am so sorry for this loss. With love, Rita
My sincerest condolences to John’s family and we have lost a very good friend.
Joseph Chan from Hong Kong
I'm shocked by the news and saddened for the left of the gentleman. John will be greatly missed by all of us.
Dr. Yanliang Wang，Associate professor, Wenzhou Medical College
John was a wonderful man. In France, catholic monks drink wine on the death of one of them as this is the day their monk friend start his life close to God. With all the good John has made on earth, sure he is already to paradise, being able to take care of us from there and give you strength.
Please present our sincere condoleances to his family on our behalf and on behalf of the club and district 3450.
He was a champion for those who otherwise would have spent the rest of their lives ostrasized. May His soul rest in Perfect Peace and his family be comforted at this time. Mona
Our deepest sympathies to Elisabeth and John's family. May they know in their hearts that many caring thoughts are with them. The most precious gifts John leaves behind are the lessons he lived and the stellar examples he set for others. We enfold his family and friends with our love and prayers and bless John in his new experience of eternal life. Please accept this donation to Alliance for Smiles in his honor.
Warmest Regards,
Marcia and John Traversaro
Prayers to the family of John. He was such a wonderful man and welcomed so many volunteers to Alliance for Smiles. His energy and compassion will be missed. Mary Jensen
It is soooooo sad to hear the bad news....It's a great loss of AFS, a great lost of San Francisco...
Dear John, our friend, thanks very much for what you did for the kids in Wenzhou, you'll be alive in our hearts forever.
Jianfeng Ma, China
Soooo sad to hear. . . how short life is... Anita and Barbara I wish I could fly now to San Francisco to join you, .... to be with you. ,.. to personally condole. Rest in peace John, your mission here on earth extraordinarily delivered, well done my friend. You will always be in our hearts.
NOIME LIANGCO --Philippines
Dear John,
I only met you a couple of times, but it was always a pleasure.
You will be missed, but your great work will continue to bring smiles to children around the world.
Mark Evans
Dear John,
We will miss you!
Ben
It is a great loss for AFS. Though I have not worked with John, but his story deeply touched me. I feel very sad for his leaving. It is people like John who bring smiles to defected kids. He will be remembered by thousands of children and their families. I want to express my condonlence to John's family. His unfinished work will carry on.
Johnny
One never knows what to say when a family loves a loved one. For John, his family extends global. He will be missed. His presence cherished. So tonight everyone, tip your glass for someone with a heart the size of Montana.Thank you John, rest easy, for you my friend, you made a difference. Submitted by Deb McCaslin
It's said that if a man has five true friends, he is very lucky. Now I have four true friends.
Wilber
I also want to say how I had admired John in his Philanthropic work with Rotary, Rotaplast, and with Alliance for Smiles most recently. Anita knows my interest in the Team approach to Cleft care and I am so glad there have been attempts to do that in China. John was a gentleman of great strength for which he is to be remembered and admired. His charming smile and friendship was a benefit to all he contacted. His contributions to the welfare of Cleft Children and the families dealing with their complex problems is to be admired by us all and I think is a good demonstration about Service above self. My condolences to his family and friends. With warm personal feelings , Bob Demuth
As sad as we are at his passing, surely there must be a joyous group gathered to greet him in the next phase of his life; and who knows but what there are young spirits there who also need help? We think it is not how and when we die that is of the greatest importance, but how we lived our lives, and John led a great life, filled with hope, patience, kindness and of course, charity. For the things he did, and for what he represented, we love him. We will not forget him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, as well as the Alliance staff and extended family.
Dave & Sherrill Crosby
What a courageous man--not afraid to reach way out and change peoples lives. Making a difference in all he could on this earth. Heaven is singing praises and welcoming him.
I'm shocked and saddened. A gentleman, a great Rotarian, John will be greatly missed.
Andrew
Please extend my condolences to all. I know how dedicated he was to the children and his work to help them.
God Bless, Karien Ziegler
I am shocked that John has left Earth so suddenly. May we be comforted that he is in heaven and we will meet again when our time on Earth ends. I saw him at the SCNC Chinese New Year Celebration in SFO and he was looking great with Elizabeth.
Please let me know if I can help in any way. I will donate in his honor.
Sincerest condolences to John Uth's family, the Rotary Club of San Francisco of which he was a Past President and of course all at Alliance for Smiles. PP John was a true exemplar of Rotary's main motto: Service Above Self. Chris and I share your pain.
Dom Vessigault,
John will be missed. He made the world a better place for being here. I hope his dedication can be passed on to the rest of us.
Sincerely,
Jim Allen
There's a special Heaven for people like John.
Sincere condolences from the Rotary club of Guayaquil Ecuador
-Isabel de Escala
What a shock... John was timeless - full of life, humor and charm. we send or condolences. We are in London and cannot be in attendance at the mass but please know he is in our prayers and will be greatly missed.
Mary Lou and Bob
So very sorry for your loss! I just met him at the Gala and I had no idea he was ill. What a great man! Please convey my sincere condolences to his family and his extended family at AFS.
Sincerely,
Sneha
John became a friend through Rotary and I share your sadness at his untimely death. Please know that my thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Although I’m unable to attend the services planned for Thursday, I will be sending a check to Alliance for Smiles in John’s memory. I know you will continue your great work with Alliance for Smiles which was made that much stronger through John’s commitment.
With warm regards,
Tom
(Email sent to Anita Stangle on Thursday, May 17, 2012)
Dear Anita,
I am truly saddened by this news, as I am about to start the third day of surgery of our Zunyi mission with another remarkable AfS team. As we contemplate the possible future of this location as our fourth Treatment Center, I am keenly aware of the origin of this novel concept of cleft missions. John has been the unwavering force behind this dream that has culminated in the establishment of three treatment centers China. In this economic climate, I sincerely hope that John’s dream will live on. It has been a distinct honor and privilege to have served with him.
Heidi and I join the entire AfS family in our prayers in this solemn hour.
Wally Chang
I am deeply saddened to learn about John's passing. He carried a big smile and a giving heart.
John, thank you for all you have done for children all across the globe.
Raymond Chan
You're the best, John.
Otis Paul