Lion Gary Nieskes joined Lionism in 1972 as a Charter Member of the Southwestern New York Lions Club. He served as Club
President in 1975 and continued his service in New York until moving to Florida in 1996. Lion Gary has held most of the club
offices including Secretary and Tail Twister as well as many chairmanships of club committees.
PCC Nieskes became active in District activities serving as Zone Chair and worked on the committee to elect one of his
fellow club members District Governor. He also served on several district Committees including Leadership and on Multiple
District 20 Committees including Youth Band Co-Chairman as well as MD Parliamentarian for 3 years. He also served as
Co-Chairman of the MD-20 Parade of Flags Committee.
After moving to Florida, Lion Gary and his wife Lion Sandy became members of the Englewood Lions Club in District 35-I.
He served as President for two years and Secretary for four years, as well as chair of several committees.
PCC Nieskes became active in the District serving as a Recruiter-Trainer and four years as the Leadership Chair. Lion Gary
was elected to serve as Vice District Governor in 2001-2002 and was sworn in as District Governor in Osaka, Japan in 2002.
In 2003 he was elected to serve as MD-35 Council Chair.
Lion Gary is a Certified Guiding Lion as well as having assisted on the faculty for the Multiple District Leadership
Institute. He has served as President of the MD-35 Past District Governors Association and is currently serving as the
Multiple District 35 Leadership Chair.
PCC Nieskes was presented with a Melvin Jones Fellowship by his club in New York in 1996. He has sponsored 24 Lions and
has 35 years of perfect attendance.
Professionally, Lion Gary is a Semi-retired High School and Junior High School teacher and served as the president of the
New York State Teachers Association and holds a life membership in the PTA.
Lion Gary served as President and Vice President of their Home Owners Association Board for the past 10 years, Vice
President of the Southwest Sarasota County Homeowners Association and Chairman of the Stormwater Environmental Utility
Committee which is one of the County advisory committees appointed by the Sarasota County Commissioners. He has also served on
the board of CONA (Council of Neighborhood Associations) in Sarasota County and also on the board of the Englewood Sustainable
Environmental Learning Center as Treasurer.
PCC Nieskes serves as an Eucharistic Minister at his church.
Lion Gary has been married for 48 years to Lion Sandy and they have two Children and six grandchildren.