in memoriam mike sacherI first met Gene when he hired me as a fledgling accountant in 1977 – almost 40 years ago. Gene was my mentor and long-time business partner, and importantly, a role model and friend.

Who could have imagined the small firm he joined shortly after leaving Coopers & Lybrand, which consisted of eight people working out of a cramped and bare-bones office in Hayward, Calif., would grow to more than 100 partners and staff and five offices across the country, becoming the No. 1 credit union CPA firm year after year? Who could have imagined that this niche firm would produce a who's-who list of executives in credit unions across the country? And who could have imagined the scores of executives who were selected through executive search engagements led by Gene over the years? Certainly not me!

But to know Gene was to think about strategy and dream about possibilities that most of us couldn't imagine. He opened up offices across the country in cities like Boston, Seattle and Dallas. He expanded services to include consulting, risk management and executive searches. He hosted an annual supervisory committee and board of directors’ conference in multiple cities every year. Gene was a visionary in leading our CPA firm. Those same qualities led to the success of his executive search business, O’Rourke & Associates. I’d like to share a few of those special qualities that comprised the person we knew and loved.

Gene was a man of substance and principle. His word was all that was needed, no matter the complexity of the matter at hand. He was a fierce competitor in the business world. But he was respected and admired by all of our competitors. He honored the accounting theory of substance over form because substance was the essence of his being. He taught all of us as young auditors to honor this principle, and we did. And the result was reflected in the success of our business. We were true auditors and consultants. And it was Gene's leadership that underpinned our success.

Gene loved people too. He cared deeply about everyone who worked in our firm. He knew the names of their spouses, significant others and children. He made time to get to know our staff and ensured everyone was taken care of, not only financially, but by recognizing their key role in the firm's success. He also sponsored numerous activities for our staff, including many legendary hiking and camping trips to Yosemite and the Sierras.

Gene was an eternal optimist. He had faith in people, sometimes to a fault! He always took the optimistic road, making lemonade out of lemons whenever possible. Just a few weeks ago, I had the honor of having dinner with Gene at a restaurant near his home in San Francisco, with one of my former partners, Wade Painter, and a close business associate, John Parsons. Just days away from his collapse, he was telling us of the cancer that had spread to his central nervous system. But he hadn't given up – he still had more than a glimmer of hope despite the lateness of the battle. His optimism was contagious! He was the perfect professional skeptic when wearing his auditor hat, and the eternal optimist throughout his personal life.

Gene was generous and selfless in his business dealings. I don't know how many times over the years I heard him say, “Hogs get slaughtered, pigs get fat.” Growing up in farming country, he knew the literal and figurative meaning of this phrase. But he always practiced the underlying business principle, even if it meant leaving some personal money on the table out of his caring for others.

To know Gene was to love Gene. Many in the industry knew him and loved him dearly. I know I speak for all of my former partners and staff in affirming our love, and gratitude for our careers that he so influenced.

May his memory be a blessing to all of us, especially Linda, Bridget and John, and their spouses and children.

Farewell my friend, you are already sorely missed.

Mike Sacher

Executive Vice President, CFO

Xceed Financial Credit Union

El Segundo, Calif.

Former Partner, O’Rourke

Sacher & Moulton

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