It is with great sadness that NASBP announces that a past member of the NASBP Board of Directors, Ernest S. Susanin, 74, passed away on July 19 at his home in Connecticut.
Susanin received his Bachelors from LaSalle University and went on to own E.S. Susanin, Inc. until becoming Executive Vice President at Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Inc. in Hartford, CT. Susanin served as a NASBP Director for a year and as a Regional Vice President for three years. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Utility Contractors of Connecticut.
NASBP President John Rindt said, “I knew Ernie through his involvement on the NASBP Board. Ernie had a tremendous commitment and dedication to NASBP and the surety industry. NASBP members and affiliates will recall seeing Ernie at the NASBP Regions 10 & 11 Annual meetings, which he attended for nearly two decades and rarely missed. This is a great loss to the industry and to Ernie’s many NASBP colleagues.”
Susanin is survived by his wife, Judy, three sons and their wives, five grandchildren, five brothers and one sister.
A mass of Christian burial was held July 22 at the Church of the Incarnation in Wethersfield, with a burial at Rose Hill Memorial Park.
NASBP recently learned of the sad news that Steve C. Buffkin, 48, passed away on June 7 in Terrell Hills, TX. Buffkin was an active supporter of the surety industry through both his membership in NASBP and position as Past President of the Surety Association of South Texas.
Buffkin attended the University of Texas and after graduating, his business career ranged from the savings and loan industry to insurance and culminated with Catto & Catto, LLP, an insurance, risk management, employee benefits and surety agency. At Catto & Catto, Buffkin was a Partner and led the Surety Group.
“Steve was a rare individual who had a sunny disposition regardless of the situation and the uncanny ability to lift up those around him. His ultimate goal was to bring people together for mutual benefit not just personal gain. Even as he struggled with cancer, his outlook remained positive and in a conversation just weeks before his passing, Steve casually dismissed any discussion of his own situation and instead wanted to focus on his contractor that was needing attention at the time. Steve was a great advocate for producers, contractors and sureties. We will all miss him dearly!,” said Lindey Jennings of SureTec Insurance Company in Austin, TX.
Buffkin is survived by his wife, Jeannette, his son and daughter, and a sister and brother.
Memorial services were held at St. Peter Prince of the Apostles Catholic Church in San Antonio on June 9 and 10.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to ThriveWell Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 29331, San Antonio, TX 78229 or to the Alamo Heights School Foundation, P.O. Box 171393, San Antonio, TX 78217. To view an obituary, visit the San Antonio Express-News by clicking here. To send condolences, click here.
