WESTERLY, R.I.–Joseph N. Cugini, well-known to many in credit unions for his long career in the movement, has died. Mr. Cugini was 89.
Cugini served for 41 years at Westerly Community Credit Union as both president and CEO and chairman of the board. In Rhode Island he was active in the then Rhode Island Credit Union League and served on numerous committees and as board chair. He also served as chair of the former Rhode Island Corporate CU, which in early years had what were known as interlocked boards with the state leagues.
The Cooperative CU Association, which now represents Rhode Island, said one of Cugini’s proudest accomplishments was the founding of the WCCU Holiday Basketball Tournament, created in 1984 to bring together local school communities in a competitive way to collaboratively raise funds for their sports boosters. As the sole sponsor since its inception, Westerly Community Credit Union underwrites all expenses of the Holiday Basketball Tournament.
National, International Level Involvement
At the national level, he was active in CUES and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2000, was active on CUNA’s board and served as chair of its Government Affairs Committee, was a member of the board of the former U.S. Central Credit Union and was a member of the Federal Reserve Consumer Advisory Council.
Internationally, Cugini served as president of the World Council of Credit Unions and in 2003 received the WOCCU Distinguished Service Award in acknowledgement of his efforts to reshape the board to allow for more International Representation. During his tenure at WOCCU he visited 27 countries promoting the cooperative concept, with his efforts resulting in USAID, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund becoming more involved with WOCCU.
He ’Strengthened the Movement’
The Cooperative CU Association noted that Cugini also hosted a weekly radio show on WBLQ up until his death interviewing guests from throughout the state.
“Our credit union community has lost a leader who cared deeply for his credit union, his community, and the credit unions of the world and strengthened the movement through his actions,” said Association President/CEO Ron McLean.