LMB Looses Founding Father - Tom Ferstle Passes at Age 62

[John Lindenmayer]

Michigan Cycling Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that we report that the League of Michigan Bicyclists (LMB) recently lost one of our founding fathers.  Tom Ferstle, Age 62 of Rockwood, Michigan died July 22, 2012.

An avid bicyclist, Tom played a big role in Michigan’s cycling scene including the early history of LMB where he served the organization in numerous capacities over the years.  Tom was involved in the founding of the League in 1981 and went on to serve as one of LMB’s founding board members.  In this capacity, he also served as treasurer for many of the early years before helping to organize the first Shoreline Bicycle Tour – East Route in 1988.  He served as Tour Director for this tour from 1989-1996.  In 1992, Tom’s commitment to the League deepened even further when he took on the role as LMB Administrator.  Serving in this capacity until 1996, when LMB hired our first full-time paid staff, Tom handled the day-to-day operations of the organization out of his home.
 
Fellow LMB Board Member Jim Dougherty, shared this remembrance,

“I had the privilege to serve with Tom on the Board of Directors for the League of Michigan Bicyclists in the middle 1980’s. Tom was always the voice of reason. His kind and gentle manner was infectious and calming. He was very compassionate in the effort to boost the sport of recreational bicycling in the State of Michigan.”

Tom also served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the League of American Wheelmen before they became the League of American Bicyclists. In addition to his involvement with statewide and national bicycling issues, Tom also helped advanced bicycling locally in SE Michigan.  In 1978 he founded the Downriver Cycling Club, after being approached by a young bicyclist who was interested in taking up cycling as a serious sport and was looking for people to ride with. Tom told him about how he co-founded Monroe County Cycling back in 1972 before moving to Wyandotte, and that all it would really take is two or more people to have a meeting and start spreading the word. He currently was serving as Vice President of Downriver Cycling Club and was an avid promoter of various local cycling events including the Metro Grand Spring Tour, A Peach of A Ride, Bike Feast, and others.

A visitation for Tom is being held today, Wednesday, July 25 from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM at The Trenton Chapel - Martenson Family of Funeral Homes in Trenton, MI.  A Life Celebration will be held at the same location tomorrow, July 26 at 10 am.  Please visit the Martenson Family of Funeral Home’s website <http://martenson.tributes.com/show/Thomas-Mark-Ferstle-94174628#services>  for more information.

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John Lindenmayer
Advocacy & Policy Director
League of Michigan Bicyclists
(517) 334-9100
416 S. Cedar St, Suite A
Lansing, MI 48912
www.LMB.org