In Remembrance

With sadness, NASBP announces the passing of these three NASBP activists.  

Glenn Arakaki
(1962-2015)

NASBP was saddened to learn that NASBP activist Glenn Arakaki, 53, of The Hartford in Irvine, CA passed away November 22, 2015. For more than a decade, Glenn was a mainstay at NASBP Annual Meetings and most Regional Meetings. 

Glenn started working for Reliance in 1985, then for the NASBP Member firm of King & Neel in Hawaii for five years. Then, he returned to the states to work for USF&G (which became St. Paul). From there he went to Liberty Mutual, then Atlantic Mutual, and from there to The Hartford, where he worked as a manager for 10 years. 

NASBP Past President Lawrence F. McMahon of the NASBP member firm of Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. in San Diego, CA said: "Glenn came to CA in 1997, and I met him that first week. What a smile and a great person. No one could or would have a bad thing to say about Glenn. One of my favorite stories was in 1998 when, St. Paul, where I was working at the time, bought USF&G, where Glenn held the same position. We went to lunch and both agreed that the other person was right for the job. We both 'agreed' to resign, but luckily they transferred me to New York and Glenn got the job. That’s the kind of guy he was, loyal, proud and a consummate professional!!! He will be sorely missed."

Dave Akers at Hartford Bond in Hartford, CT said, "Glenn was a great bond manager and an even better person. We will miss his leadership, his smile, and his unique ability to see things clearly."

Glenn and his family have lived in Irvine, CA for the past 18 years. He is survived by his wife Christa, sons Matthew and Andrew, parents Irene and Stanley, and sister Diane Arakaki. He is also survived by his stepson Erik, stepdaughter Dana, her husband Nathan, and their children Alex, Ben, Bradley and Sam.

A Celebration of Life was held last week at the Mariners Church Chapel, 5001 Newport Coast Drive, Irvine, CA 92603.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in honor of Glenn to a charity of your choice or to a Legacy Fund for his sons Andrew and Matthew Arakaki, which friends of the family have set up. If you wish to make a memorial contribution to the Legacy Fund, contact Brenda Caldera at bmcaldera@cox.net or make checks payable to “Andrew & Matthew Arakaki” and mail them to: 

Brenda Caldera
C/o Glenn Arakaki Legacy Fund
1 Laurelwood
Irvine, CA 92620-1297

For more information about Glenn, read the notice and consider posting a condolence message to the guest book here.
 

Brent Cross
(1957 - 2015)

NASBP was saddened to learn that NASBP activist Brent Cross, 58, Executive Vice President of Cross Insurance, headquartered in Bangor, ME, passed away on November 26, 2015. Several NASBP Member firms are among the over 35 Cross Insurance offices located in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. 

Brent Cross began his career with his family’s firm in 1979. During his tenure, he supervised the expansion of agency offices over four decades from a single office to now more than 35 locations throughout New England. He also oversaw staff growth from five employees to more than 700 employees throughout the region. 

"Brent Cross was personable and warm, and he was willing to drive four hours for a large, middle market, or small contractor--they all deserved his time," said NASBP Third Vice President Bob Shaw of the NASBP member firm of Skillings Shaw & Associates in Lewiston, ME. "Brent enjoyed working with contractors and embraced the surety business." 

Michelle V. Orlando of the NASBP member firm of Cross Surety in Lewiston, ME said: "For three decades, Brent and I competed in the Maine surety marketplace. He was a relentless competitor. I watched him grow his respect and influence within the construction community through hard work and dedication to his clients and the construction trade associations. He was everywhere and at times seemed bigger than life.... He was a gentle, humble, and selfless guy who worked harder than just about anyone I know. He was one of the best networkers and salesmen I have ever met. He did this all the hard way by knocking on doors, making phone calls, staying engaged, and being there for people when they needed him. He did the surety business the old fashioned way, one customer at a time with the personal touch. Brent never gave up!" 

William Mahar at Liberty Mutual Surety in Weston, MA said: "Brent was very excited about the surety business and very interested in working with quality companies, agencies and customers. Brent has helped the surety agency base find ways of consolidating and continuing smaller agencies with succession issues, yet keep the core agency in place for years to come. All of the agents that I know that were acquired by Cross, have been very pleased well after the fact on how they were treated by Brent. I will miss Brent as he was a pleasure to work with and to just have a cup of coffee with." 

Woodrow Cross, founder of Cross Insurance and Brent’s father said: “With persistence and enthusiasm, Brent grew the surety/construction bond department at Cross because he truly cared for, and was committed to, his customers and his trade. I’m proud of Brent and the way he represented our company and the industry throughout the New England market. I know he will be remembered fondly as a tireless, conscientious, passionate and cheerful man who impacted many lives.”

Predeceased by his mother Janette Loretta Cross, he is survived by his wife, Lori Cross; his father, Woodrow Cross; three daughters, Whitney Cross, Alison Cross and Emily Cross; two sons, Brian Cross and Woodrow Cross II; two brothers, Dennis Cross and Royce Cross; two sisters, Connie Guelich and Judy Olson; and many nieces and nephews. 

A funeral service was held in December at the Bangor Baptist Church in Bangor, ME. The family suggests those who wish to remember Brent in a special way make gifts in his memory to: The Joe Andruzzi Foundation, 200 Chauncy St., Suite 208 Mansfield, MA 02048, by clicking here. For more information about the Foundation, click here.

For more information about Brent, read the notice and consider posting a condolence message to the guest book here.

Paul Anthony "Tony" Yasilli, Jr.
(1969-2015)  

NASBP was saddened to learn that NASBP activist Paul Anthony "Tony" Yasilli, Jr., 46, passed away on November 17, 2015. Tony served as a Faculty Member for several of the Summer and Winter sessions of the William J. Angell Surety School. Tony, who resided in Dallas, TX at the time of his passing, was Regional Director of Contract Surety at The Hanover Insurance Group.

NASBP Past President Lawrence F. McMahon of the NASBP member firm of Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. described how Tony began his career in the industry in 1990. He said Tony had recently finished college and was traveling abroad, when Tony met Tom Gorke, Sr. of Seaboard. Tom recruited Tony to work at the Seaboard London Branch, and Tony started at Seaboard in 1990 and worked there for about eight years. He said, Tony went on to work for Atlantic Mutual, Suretec, Swiss Re/NAS Surety Group, HCC Surety, and lastly Hanover. 

"He was an enthusiastic instructor and was well liked by the students," said NASBP Third Vice President Bob Shaw of the NASBP member firm of Skillings Shaw & Associates in Lewiston, ME. "He brought a solid insight into the class rooms and the overall School."

Nick Newton of the NASBP member firm of Newton Bonding in Stillwater, MN said: "I first met Tony when he worked for Swiss Re. Tony was one of the really great guys in our industry. Always quick with a smile and a greeting, he was one of those individuals who went out of his way to ask you how you were and was genuinely interested in you and your life, not just your work. I considered him one of my first friends outside the state of Minnesota, and he will be sorely missed. I am a better person for knowing him."

Adam Pessin of HCC Surety Group in Los Angeles, CA, said: “Never lacking ambition and energy, Tony relished the challenge of leading HCC Surety Group's efforts to launch our contract and commercial surety efforts in Texas. Tony was devoted to his craft and maintained laser-like focus on what he wanted to achieve and would always have a plan for achieving same. When he was diagnosed in 2009 his courage and resilience was unforgettable to those within our company. Tony rarely missed a day of work and remained positive despite all the complications the cancer would throw his way. Besides numerous in-person visits and trips to visit agents around Texas and surrounding states, I would spend many hours on the phone with Tony (mainly on my a.m. commutes). We would talk about various subjects, but the topics that always came up besides business talk were college football with a specific focus on the Texas Longhorns, the perpetually 8-8 Dallas Cowboys, and the Yasilli boys. HCC Surety Group and our industry is better place for having Tony Yasilli. He was a true professional and wonderful family man.”

Tony is preceeded in death by his grandparents Frank and Margaret Yasilli and Columbus and Margray Floyd and survived by parents his Paul and Cathy Yasilli, wife Dana (nee Tramonte) Yasilli, and sons Ryan, Sam, and Andrew Yasilli.

A funeral was held in November at the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Frisco, TX. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Camp Esperanza–Bridewell Foundation, P.O Box 25317, Dallas, TX 75225.

For more information about Tony, read the notice and consider posting a condolence message to the guest book here.