On May 30, 2026, Rotaplast International, Inc. held a Gala at the Basque Cultural Center in South San Francisco to highlight its mission to help children and families worldwide with cleft lip and/or palate, burn scarring, and other deformities; to fundraise for future medical missions; and this year, to celebrate Dr. Angelo Capozzi. Dr. Capozzi was a member of the Rotary Club of San Francisco for 42 years from 1971 to 2013. He left our Club to be closer to his home and joined the Rotary Club of Tiburon-Belvedere where he has been since 2014.
In 1991, Dr. Capozzi and Peter Lagarias who was then President-Elect of our Club organized an international service project with the Rotary Clubs of La Serena-Oriente and Los Andes. Members of our Club and their spouses on the first mission in January 1993 were: Dr. Angelo and Louise Capozzi; Kay Clarke; Peter and Elaine Lagarias and Kelly Maurer; Charles and Sandra Massen; Jim and Jo Patrick; and Rosey Wong. The service mission brought a team of medical and Rotarian volunteers to northern Chile to operate on children with cleft lips and palates. In addition to the multi-disciplinary medical team, non-medical Rotarian volunteers (from both Chile and the United States of America) facilitated the mission as translators, ward coordinators, logistics providers, quartermasters, and more.
The first mission in January 1993 successfully served 132 children, but hundreds of patients remained when the mission ended. Immediately upon the Team's return to San Francisco, then President-Elect Bob Wilhelm pledged to repeat the mission and more members of our Club participated. Soon with Rotarians from other countries asking for missions, Rotaplast International was formed as a separate charitable organization.
Dr. Angelo Capozzi and PDG Peter Lagarias
For his roles as visionary leader, dedicated humanitarian, and inspiring mentor, Dr. Capozzi was awarded the Rotary International Service Above Self award in 1995-1996, which is Rotary’s highest honor for an individual Rotarian and celebrates a Rotarian's exceptional, hands-on humanitarian service to create meaningful and lasting impact. This award is internationally competitive and granted to no more than 150 recipients worldwide each year.
At the May 30 Gala, the room was completely full with friends, family members, supporters of Rotaplast, and Rotarians from throughout District 5150 and beyond. Among the District 5150 Rotarians were PDG Brian McLeran (2007-2008), District Governor Mitone Griffiths (2025-2026), and District Governor Nominee Tony Villanueva (2027-2028). The following Presidents from our Club were also in attendance: 1984-1985 President Jim Patrick; 1992-1993 President Peter Lagarias who went on to become District 5150 Governor in 2001-2002; 2006-2007 President Anita Stangl; 2016-2017 President David Dye; 2024-2025 President Bob Hermann; and 2025-2026 President Frank Yoke.
David Dye, Dr. Angelo Capozzi, Jim Patrick, and Jo Patrick; Anita Stangl and DG Mitone Griffiths
Many wanted the microphone to honor Dr. Capozzi, but the time limit of the Gala restricted the presentations to a few. Past President Jim Patrick shared his memories of the missions in which he worked with Dr. Capozzi. Other speakers from our Club included Rotaplast Co-Founder and PDG Peter Lagarias, Rotaplast Executive Director Daniel DeSanto, and Rotaplast Medical Team Coordinator Evelyn Abad.
Said PDG Peter Lagarias, “Angelo is my best friend and my inspiration in Rotary. Angelo has great empathy and epitomizes Service Above Self. Besides his family, his faith, and Notre Dame, he has a mission in life. Angelo is dedicated to alleviating clefts and facial anomalies anywhere and everywhere. He has unparalleled surgical talent and seeks to use these gifts to the highest and best uses. It has been a great joy to support his Rotary service around the world helping these children and their families.”
The most moving presentation of the evening was the one by Lawrence Reese. Lawrence was a patient who had suffered massive burns on 85% of his body. Dr. Capozzi perfomed multiple surgeries on Lawrence at no cost. Lawrence recovered and went on to complete his educaton at City College of San Francisco and San Francisco State University. At the Gala, Lawrence walked in to thank Dr. Capozzi; there was not a dry eye in the audience.
Lawrence Reese and Dr. Angelo Capozzi
As always, our own Allan Herzog added excitement to the fundraising portion of the Gala by challenging others to match his generous donation.
Allan Herzog
Thank you, Dr. Capozzi, for your generosity and hard work that continues to inspire and improve humankind.
Sources
To learn more about Dr. Capozzi and his work, read or view the following:
2. pages 181-187 of A Tradition of Fellowship and Service: The Rotary Club of San Francisco at 100, the official 2008 centennial history book of the Rotary Club of San Francisco written by Theresa Whitener.
3. The Legendary Life of Angelo Capozzi (video).
Dr. Angelo Capozzi, Louise Capozzi, and guests