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A fifth-generation Californian, Tom was born and raised in Los Angeles. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve, reporting three days later to infantry basic training at Fort Ord, where he spent his 18th birthday learning to throw hand grenades. In October 1962 his unit was on standby to invade Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and in 1965 he was activated for the Watts riots, riding in a jeep alongside a machine gunner.
At Santa Monica City College, Tom met Ronnie in an economics class. They married at 21 and have been happily wed for sixty years. He earned a B.S. in Finance from California State University, Northridge (CSUN) in 1968 with a 3.7 GPA.
Tom began as a financial analyst at Security Pacific Bank before joining its leasing arm. In 1974 Manufacturers Hanover Leasing recruited him to launch business origination in the Western U.S. He rose through the ranks there and at CIT Group after its 1984 acquisition. In 1996 he became President and CEO of CIT Business Credit, overseeing a loan portfolio exceeding $1.5 billion and chairing CIT's nationwide United Way efforts. He helped take CIT public in 1997; it was sold to Tyco for $9.2 billion in 2001, when Tom retired at 56.
Tom and Ronnie moved to Westport in 1994. They have two children—Lorne in Los Angeles and Natalie in Florida—and two grandchildren. Avid travelers, they've taken 35 cruises. A golfer, Tom served on Rolling Hills Country Club's board for 17 years and on several Westport bodies, including the Historic District Commission. He endowed a scholarship at CSUN, where he has taught for fifteen years. Tom joins the Y's Men for its activities and fellowship.
Check out his full bio here: Tom Bloch
(Interview and Bio by Jeff Rubin)
Thank You:
We thank these Y’s Men who have referred new members in the past six months:
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