Honoring Bob Stoico: A Decade of Community Impact at the Stoico FIRSTFED YMCA

As we approach the 10-year anniversary of the Stoico FIRSTFED YMCA, we take a moment to honor and express our deepest gratitude to Bob Stoico for his unwavering support and generous philanthropy.

In November 2015, the YMCA received an extraordinary $1 million gift from the Robert F. Stoico/FIRSTFED Foundation. This incredible contribution led to the naming of the Stoico FIRSTFED YMCA, which officially opened its doors on December 17, 2015, following the transformation of the former Grace Gospel Church.

The towns of Swansea, Somerset, and Dighton have always been vibrant and full of life, yet they lacked a central gathering place where residents could connect, grow, and thrive together. Thanks to Bob Stoico’s generosity, the YMCA has become that place—a welcoming hub for families and individuals seeking health, wellness, and a sense of community.

Today, we see entire neighborhoods coming together, engaging in fitness and wellness activities in our state-of-the-art facility. Beyond the walls of the Y, our 36-acre property offers expansive sports fields, scenic walking trails, a climbing wall, and exhilarating ropes courses—encouraging families to embrace an active lifestyle while fostering strong community bonds.

As we reflect on the past decade, we remain deeply grateful for Bob Stoico and the Robert F. Stoico/FIRSTFED Foundation. His legacy of generosity and commitment to community enrichment continues to inspire and uplift us. The Stoico FIRSTFED YMCA stands as a testament to his vision, and as we look ahead, we are committed to expanding and evolving in ways that honor his incredible contribution.

Thank you, Bob Stoico. Your legacy lives on in the laughter of children, the friendships formed, and the countless lives touched through the YMCA.

Stephanie Mancini
Sr. Executive Director

RIP my friend. Condolences to your family. Great memories of the good old days at St Anne's hospital

The Board of Directors and staff of the Boys & Girls Club of Fall River offer our most sincere condolences to Bob's family.  The Club remains forever grateful to Bob for his dedication to ensuring youth of Fall River have a safe place to grow and learn.  Bob guided the Club with a steady hand and strong heart as a Director for 50 years.  As a philanthropist, Bob's support helped provide kids with an amazing facility and access  to high quality programs, enabling them to reach their full potential.  Bob, you will be deeply missed by your Boys & Girls Club.  Thank you for supporting our mission.

Bill Kiley
Executive Director

The UMass Dartmouth community extends its deepest condolences to the Stoico family and all who knew Bob. We are profoundly grateful for his contributions to fostering an environment of academic excellence and innovation. His generosity has left an indelible mark on our institution, and his legacy will continue to inspire and facilitate the pursuit of knowledge for generations to come.

To the family of Robert Stoico, thank you for sharing such a dynamic, generous, and kind leader with us. It might sound cliché, but he leaves a legacy in the lives of people who worked with him up here in the chilly northeast. I will remember him as a decisive, fierce boss with a huge heart. I am sorry for the loss of your husband, father, friend and colleague, and I believe we can all carry on his legacy by being generous, kind, and paying attention to the communities around us. God bless you.

Bob, thank you for all that you have done for FIRSTFED employees and the greater Fall River area community over so many years. You set a great example for all of us to follow. True leadership. Good communication. Caring for others. Dedication. You will be missed.          Bob Skurka

Bob callsign W1IZT started and ran our international Digital Mobile Radio net every Monday at 11 am whether he was in TN or FL.    His dedication and friendly demeanor brought in many stations as we saw his radio net grow.  Bob always had something new to bring to the weekly lunch table or DMR radio net to stimulate fellow radio Ham's brain cells.

Donna,  Michael and I were so sorry to hear of Bob’s passing. He was such a kind and giving person. God bless Bob, you and the family.
Michael & Chris Cikacz

I am saddened to hear of Bob’s passing. As CEO of FirstFed he made it his business to know every employee’s name & his monthly  “Lunch with the President” meetings were great fun.  He took care to remember the employees when the bank went public & when  it merged with Webster Bank. His financial acumen is the stuff of legend but most importantly he is remembered as a good and decent man. Jan Durette 20 year FirstFed employee

As a longtime friend and legal adviser I learned how dedicated Bob was to his career. It wasn’t a sacrifice . He truly loved his job , FFSLA of Fall River, its customers and employees.  In retirement he continued to serve the Fall River community through the banks conversion foundation. He was honored by his Board after the bank was sold to Webster Bank by renaming the foundation  “the Robert Stoico Foundation”. He enjoyed his time at Marco Island treating his boat like the bank. There is many an amusing story of how fussy Bob was in seeing that his guest not scuff or mar his “baby”. He will be missed by those of us that were allowed the privilege to be in his world.

I am very sorry to hear the sad news of Bob’s passing. He was a great guy. He did so much for all of the Firstfed employees. Thank you Bob. You will be missed.

Bob never let me call him 'sir'...always just Bob.  One of the best bosses I've ever had.  I'm going to miss our conversations on the phone and in person.  Heart goes out to his family.

OBITUARY

Robert "Bob" Francis Stoico Sr.

June 8, 1940 – January 15, 2025

Hodges-Josberger Funeral Home

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