JuanitaWhiteside, president/CEO of the $284 million Otero FCU, passed away on Aug. 13 after a long battle withbreast cancer. A release from the Credit Union Association of NewMexico said Whiteside worked at the Alamagordo, N.M.-basedcooperative for more than 37 years.

In 2011, Whiteside became one of the first New Mexico credit union CEOsto post on social media when she was inspired to dive into popularculture and form a flash mob, the CUANM said. In July, Otero FCUwas one of four New Mexico credit unions on a list of the Top 200Healthiest Credit Unions in America. Otero was 78th on the nationallist compiled from more than 6,000 federally insured credit unionsevaluated.

“She was the finest person that walked on Earth. The bestemployee anyone could ever have. I am very happy I had theopportunity to hire Juanita. It was one of the best hiringdecisions we ever made,” Dave Sheppard, chairman of the Otero boardof directors, said. He originally hired Whiteside more than 37years ago.

Whiteside served on the CUANM Board of Directors, New MexicoCredit Union Education Foundation Board of Directors, CUANMGovernmental Affairs Committee and CUANM Governance Task Force. Shewas a familiar face at many association events and always availableto assist other credit union leaders who could benefit from herexperience, the trade association said.

“She will always be known as a credit union leader, not only atOtero Credit Union, but across all of New Mexico. She waspassionate and a real activist in the credit union movement,”Credit Union Association of New Mexico CEO Paul Stull said. “All ofus at CUANM extend our most sincere condolences to Juanita's familyand the employees and members of her Otero Federal Credit Unionfamily as well. She will be missed and remembered for her tirelessefforts to further the mission of credit unions to serve andpromote the financial independence of their members.”

Whiteside's family requested that any memorial contributions bemade to the Susan G. Komen organization.