LAKEVILLE — Conducting their “11 O'clock Toast” has proved especially difficult over the last few days for the Middleboro Elks. 

The Elks lost dedicated member and Middleboro resident Todd Page, 68, who died Saturday afternoon in an apparent drowning at Long Pond in Lakeville. 

Page was an Elks officer and one of his duties was to read the “11 O’Clock Toast,” a daily ritual to honor members who have passed, said Middleboro Elks president Laura Smith O’Connor. 

He had the toast memorized, she said. 

Page was found dead after he reportedly dove off a boat in the vicinity of the Lakeville Eagle’s clubhouse on Long Pond. 

Video footage from Lakeville Eagles surveillance cameras shows that he dove off the boat, surfaced, began swimming and then disappeared out of view, said Lakeville Eagles Club President Carl Mason. 

Environmental Police were already on Long Pond conducting routine patrols when they received a call that Page had gone missing, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office reported.

Lakeville public safety officials received a call from the Massachusetts Environmental Police asking for help in the search for Page just before 5 p.m., according to Lakeville Police Chief Matthew Perkins.

Forty-five minutes later, Page was found by boaters between 50 and 75 meters off shore in the area of the Eagle’s clubhouse dock on Long Pond.

Boaters flagged down first responders shortly after they arrived on scene, said Lakeville Fire Department Chief Mike O’Brien. 

Page, who was unresponsive, was immediately pulled out of the water and rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford where he was declared dead, O’Brien said. 

At the time of Page’s disappearance, the Lakeville Eagles Club was holding its Pond-A-Palooza event at its clubhouse featuring five live bands and “adult beverages” from 2 to 9 p.m.

Mason reported Page was not a participant in the event but was close enough to enjoy the music from a boat offshore.

The Eagles learned that he had gone missing when Page’s wife approached the Eagles clubhouse asking for help when her husband didn’t return, he said.

Those at the event immediately turned down the music and coordinated efforts to look for Page, said Mason. 

Investigation into the circumstances of Page’s death is in the hands of the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office. 

The state Medical Examiner’s office will determine the cause of death. As of Tuesday, July 23, Page’s cause of death is still under investigation, said state officials. 

Page’s family members and friends are devastated by his passing, said Smith O’Connor. 

“He was such a kind, gentle, wonderful guy. You couldn’t help but like him,” said Smith O’Connor. “The Elks are going to miss him dearly.”

In addition to being a Middleboro Elks officer, Page was an active volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in Middleboro and an avid golfer, she said.

He was a faithful attendee of the Elks Monday Night Bingo, and members described him as a “butterfly” because he “fluttered around so enthusiastically,” Smith O’Connor said. 

Page lived with his wife at the Oak Point 55-plus housing community in Middleboro. The couple were members of the parish of Saints Martha and Mary in Lakeville, Smith O’Connor said.

As Elks promise when they read the 11 O'clock Toast, “Todd will never be forgotten or forsaken,” said Smith O’Connor.