Former Board Chair and Acting Advisory Committee Member Passed Away
Aurora, CO – Fitzsimons Federal Credit Union (FFCU) former board Chair and Director Emeritus, Mr. Thomas H. Smith, passed away on February 1st, 2021. He was a fierce advocate for credit unions and served in several volunteer capacities for over 40 years at FFCU.
Mr. Smith’s relationship with FFCU began when he needed a personal loan. At the time, no bank would loan to him; however, Fitzsimons helped him in his time of need. That experience sparked his belief in the credit union difference and inspired him to serve. In 1988, Mr. Smith made history as the first and only member ever to be nominated from the floor and elected to the board of directors at an annual membership meeting. Two years later, he became Chairman of the board and remained the Chair for 23 out of his 24 years on the board.
In addition to his passion for serving the membership, he focused on improving and enriching the lives of employees during his tenure. He led efforts to implement the employee 401(k) plan, staff wellness programs, education reimbursements, and the promotion/hiring of women to leadership positions, including former FFCU CEO, Sandra B. Neves. After his retirement as board chair in 2014, the Thomas H. Smith boardroom was named in his honor.
Smith was a true trailblazer and achieved much outside of his work at FFCU. He graduated from the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy; attended Regis University, Denver with a major in Business Management; and graduated from the Denver Paralegal Institute. After 30 years of service, Tom Smith retired in 1985 as the Command Sergeant Major, Medical Brigade, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. He served on the Selection Board for the United States Service Academy Nominations and was Vice Chairman of the Volunteer Advisory Committee for the Colorado Credit Union League.
“Tom was a long-time mentor and friend to many of us. He will be sorely missed” Fitzsimons’ President & CEO Robert M. Fryberger Jr. said.
