Thomas J. Smalarz, who worked his way up from a teller position at Southbridge Credit Union to become its president/CEO, passed away July 5 following a long battle with a terminal illness.

Smalarz served the $170 million, 11,341-member SCU in Southbridge, Mass., in various capacities for more than 35 years. Following his retirement in 2009, he continued to serve as a member of the credit union's board of directors, according to the Cooperative Credit Union Association.

“Tom was a true gentleman and good person who cared deeply for his credit union, its members and its employees. He gave more than 35 years of his life to this organization and industry and he will be missed,” Jeffrey A. Davenport, president/CEO of SCU, said. “Tom was one of a kind and I'm truly a better person today having worked with him over the past eight years. I learned something from Tom, personally and professionally, at every encounter I had with him. We have lost a true friend with Tom's passing.”

Davenport also noted that Smalarz had a very special love for the community of Southbridge.

Smalarz was an active member of the St. John Paul II Church, the Southbridge Rotary Club and the United Way. He also served as a former member of the Harrington Memorial board of trustees and served on several scholarship committees for the town of Southbridge.

“When the news about Southbridge was negative, Tom always found what was good about this community as a response,” Davenport said.

A funeral mass was held for Smalarz on Monday at the Notre Dame Church of the St. John Paul II parish.

The family suggested donations in memory of Thomas J. Smalarz to the Dakin Humane Society, P.O. Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101.