When the news of Genevieve Knych-Rohan’s selection as Soroptimist of the Year was announced, after the applause died down, members were heard to comment, “She’s just the best person I know.” “Finally, I adore her!” “She’s the reason I am a Soroptimist. “

Rumor has it that prior to Genevieve Knych-Rohan’s birth, her mother fantasized that she might be carrying a future Olympic athlete because of the constant acrobatics of her unborn child. Little did she know it was just Genevieve raising her hand to volunteer!

Rohan spent the first 18 years of her life in Wurzburg Germany where her parents were teachers for a Department of Defense School. Visits to family in nearby Poland made her appreciate indoor toilets and the challenges of cooking over wood-burning stoves. Kindness and empathy are in her DNA. Her paternal grandparents were both orphans who understood firsthand, the need to assist those less fortunate than themselves. “I was named after my Grandmother who earned the nickname The Tornado.” It was a prescient choice. Her parents devoted their lives to teaching, and her 80-year-old aunt, a social worker, still takes in foster children.

When it was time for college Knych-Rohan chose USD. While in college she volunteered to help teach literacy and English as a second language, visited kids in an orphanage in Mexico, and, during a visit to New York City, helped kids at a homeless shelter. While typical college students were on the prowl for the best parties and pubs, Rohan’s focus was helping those in need. “Volunteerism is part of my nature. It gives me a sense of purpose … I have been given such a great life with so many gifts and am privileged to share them with others.”

You can’t spend 5 minutes with Genevieve without laughing. Her comic skills and staccato delivery are stage-worthy, her joy, an antidote for depression. Laughter aside, it is her inherent kindness and remarkable steadfast generosity that leave everyone she touches feeling enriched.

In 2009 Knych-Rohan was invited to speak to members of SIC on behalf of Voices for Children, a nonprofit organization that pairs volunteer advocates with foster children to identify and advocate for their needs. These Court Appointed Special Advocates, CASA’s, have access to court reports, school reports, and all aspects of the child’s life. They spend a minimum of 10 hours a month with their foster child, advocating for anything from doctor visits to transportation issues and school activities.

Customarily new CASA’s are assigned, one child. When she heard about a family of 5 kids with 1 girl and 4 boys she thought of her 4 young brothers. She wanted to make sure the children were able to stay connected so she convinced the organization to assign 4 of the 5 siblings to her. “I asked for 4 instead of 5 only because that was the number my car could accommodate. “ She made friends with another volunteer who was able to help her get all the kids together to celebrate birthdays and graduations and holidays. 

Keeping the family together quadrupled her commitment. The CASA is often the only consistent adult in the child’s life. Legal advocacy was only a small part of Rohan’s involvement with her “family”. Knych-Rohan tears up reminiscing about her relationship with the children.
“In the beginning, they didn’t have a lot of motivation,” Kynch-Rohan said. “Nobody checked on their homework, no one cared if they got good or bad grades. No one attended their school open houses.”
“So I made a big deal about helping them to raise their grades and working with them on school projects,” she continued. “I went to their open houses. They were so appreciative that someone cared enough to meet their teachers and took an interest in their success. There are so many children who don’t have that one person they can call who will listen and care.”

Rohan was and still is that person. She threw Birthday parties, celebrated every milestone cheered on the sidelines at high school football games, meeting with teachers and social workers, and was always available and sympathetic a sounding board for difficult issues.

Rohan’s tears flow as easily as her laughter. The poignant stories of her CASA the family left SIC passing around the tissues and inviting her to join the chapter. The following year they asked her to serve as SIC President, a demanding position she fulfilled with her characteristic enthusiasm and unflagging devotion.

After her 2 term presidency, Rohan was elected to serve as Soroptimist District 3 Director, overseeing 13 Clubs throughout San Diego and Imperial Valley. This busy position required an enormous commitment of energy and time. “I put a lot of miles on my car with that job!” that, she says, “Entailed frequent trips as far off as Borrego Springs and Yuma, to participate in training and events with all 13 clubs.”

Astonishingly, Rohan works full-time as a recruiter for CEOs who lead peer groups for Vistage Worldwide. She is married, a stepmom to 2 successful young men, the support human for a puppy rescued from the streets, and occasionally finds time to sleep. Her commitments are never superficial or tenuous. Thousands of photos document outings and events with her CASA family and the same is true for Soroptimist scholarship winners and their children. She is the consistent exuberant cheering section, handing out bouquets to new graduates of Monarch School, and Barrio Logan Institute.

Until recently when you passed by Gen and husband Tim’s tiny Coronado bungalow, you would be effusively greeted by Henry, their aging but unflappable rescue hound, who mirrored the sweet, generous nature of his owner. Sadly, Henry, a perennial runner-up for Coronado’s canine mayor, succumbed to cancer in April. The huge outpouring of flowers and gifts left by mourners rivaled that of royalty. Henry’s color photo and memorial on page 4 of the Eagle newspaper was sponsored by PAWS. They have since adopted another dog, Lucy, and she keeps Gen very busy on her daily walks.

It is impossible to avoid superlatives when describing Genevieve. Her list of volunteerism reads like a bloated curriculum vitae. In addition to supporting Paws, she is an early 5:30 AM dog walker along the Ferry landing, a flower show judge, a volunteer at the men’s tent during the flower show, a judge for the July 4 Parade floats, lead greeter for Coronado Island Film fest, has performed coaching and mentoring to teenage girls through SAFE, and Soroptimist Dream It Be It programs.