Rollin Dart

1925 - 2016

Rollin Bashford Dart

Born December 2, 1925   Died May 5, 2016

Rollin Bashford Dart greeted his Lord and Savior on May 5, 2016 after several months of illness.  He was born December 2, 1925 at Miss Maude Orr's Hospital in Mason, Michigan to Doc C. Dart and Zola Bashford Dart.  He grew up in Mason and graduated from Mason High School in 1943.  He was active in the Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout.  He joined the U. S. Marine Corps in the Spring of 1943, serving in the Pacific Theatre (Iwo Jima).  After his return in 1946, he attended Michigan Agricultural College (MSU) for two years.

Rollin married Mary Vay Corbin on March 28, 1948; shortly thereafter they moved to Mason and set up housekeeping, raising two children, Melanie Sue Dart and Doc Corbin Dart. Rollin's early career was in insurance, employed by the Dart Insurance Agency.  He worked under the training and mentorship of his uncle, John Dart. While still employed in insurance, he was elected Chairman of the Board and President of Dart National Bank in April, 1956.  In January, 1962, he concluded arrangements to leave Dart Insurance Agency and work at the Bank full-time as its President, C.E.O., and Chairman of the Board. 

During the 1970s, Rollin Dart was a co-founder of the Michigan Association of Community Bankers, now known as Community Bankers of Michigan (CBM). He was also elected Michigan Director to the National Council of Independent Banks and served in this capacity for three years.    

During his career, Rollin's community involvements were numerous.  In 1974, he was appointed Honorary Commander of the Michigan Naval Militia by the Governor of Michigan. He was honored as Citizen of the Year for 1990 by the Mason Area Chamber of Commerce.  In 1999, he received the Lillian Kumata Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service from the American Red Cross.  In recent years, he was also honored by the Community Bankers of Michigan and the Capital Region Community Foundation.

Rollin was active in many organizations, and served on several boards, including the 100 Club and the Lansing Safety Council. He was a member of the Mason Rotary Club where he faithfully raised funds for the eradication of polio world-wide and led singing at weekly meetings.  He was a strong supporter of Highfields, Inc. since its inception in 1962 and received the Highfields' Robert Drake Citizenship Award in the Spring of 2015.

Rollin was also a leader in the Holt/South Lansing community where he served on the Holt Education Foundation Board, the Holt-Dimondale School/Business Alliance, and volunteered at the Southside Community Kitchen. He was awarded the South Lansing Business Association's Community Service Person of the Year award in 2001.

Rollin's church and church family were very important to him.  He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Mason for over 75 years, where he served as a deacon and elder, and more recently on the Missions Committee and in the Men's choir.    

Rollin Dart, affectionately known by his friends as Rollie, was an extraordinary and unique person. He had unusual business instincts, growing Dart National Bank (later Dart Bank) from $8 million in assets to $179 million during his tenure at the helm. He made friends wherever he went, touched many lives, and impacted people in myriad positive ways.

Rollin was preceded in death by his parents, brother Jan, 2 nieces and 1 nephew, and wife Mary Vay.  He is survived by children Melanie Dart (David L. Howland) and Doc C. Dart, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a niece and nephew, and many cousins.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 10th from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at Gorsline-Runciman, Mason Ball-Dunn Chapel, 621 S. Jefferson, Mason. A memorial service will be held Monday, May 23rd at 11 a.m., with visitation at 10 a.m., at the First Presbyterian Church of Mason, 131 E. Maple Street, Mason. A luncheon will follow at the Ingham County Fairgrounds Community Building, 700 E. Ash Street, Mason.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Mason, 131 Maple Street, Mason, MI 48854; Highfields, Inc., 5123 Old Plank Road, Onondaga, MI 49264, and Youth Haven Ranch, P. O. Box 97, Rives Junction, MI  49277.  On-line condolences may be made at www.grbdmason.com.