Obituary of David L. Vigren
Vigren, David L.
Pittsford : Age 76, loving husband to Carol, caring father to Suzanne Fess (Todd) and Mark Vigren (Marcy) and doting grandfather to Ryan, Emily, Demi, Hope, Cecilia and Colby, passed away on October 10, 2017 with his family at his side.
Dave was raised in Elkhart, Indiana, to Jean Cecil Vigren and Betty Kirkwood Vigren, along with his brother, Malcolm (all deceased). His loving relationship with Carol began at Concord High School. He earned BS and MBA degrees at Indiana University.
Dave is probably best known in the Rochester area for his work as former Kodak Treasurer and past CEO of ESL Federal Credit Union. In retirement, he selflessly founded and acted as first president of the Discovery Charter School for disadvantaged students. He spent much of his time and talents to get it off the ground and to the level of success it enjoys, today.
Dave was active in many local institutions. He served for 15 years as a trustee of Nazareth College, including five years as Vice-Chairman. He also served on the Boards of Bishop Kearney High School Honeoye Central School Board and the Wilmot Cancer Center. He was a trustee of the Rochester Downtown Development Corporation, chairman of the Memorial Art Gallery’s development committee, a director of the United Way Services Corporation and chairman of its Gifts-in-Kind program.
Beyond Rochester, Dave was an alumni advisor to Indiana University’s School of Business, a director of the Allendale Mutual Insurance Company, and a member of the National Association of Credit Unions and the Thrift Institutions Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Board.
Those who knew Dave from his years at Kodak will remember him for his diligence, integrity and unfailing humor. David Metz, a retired Kodak vice-president, remembers Dave as “a buttoned-up executive with perceptive vision, a can-do attitude and the ability to fully engage employees.”
Joseph Saia, Director of the Discovery Charter School, said Dave was the major force behind the institution’s creation. “His drive, determination and heart sustained us,” Saia said. “He was the mind and the soul of this institution. He embraced and respected students for who they are and created a culture that caused them to become their best selves.”
Nazareth College president Daan Braveman remembers David as “a trusted mentor, advisor and friend to the College and to me, personally. His integrity, clear thinking, hard work and compassion were a model for all of us. Nazareth is a better place because of him, and we will miss him dearly.”
His family will remember him as “The Rock.” He had an uncanny ability to move right in to help, whenever it was needed, be it for his child, nephew, sister-in-law or dear friend. He shared his love of education with his daughter, Suzanne, his love of business with his son, Mark, and his love of Indiana University Basketball, Notre Dame Football, and lake-living with them all. Mark notes: “Sue and I played high school soccer and basketball. Dad would often show up on the sidelines in a suit and tie, having rushed out from his office to cheer us on. No matter how monumental or trivial our issues were, he was always there for us.”
To demonstrate his unending giving attitude, near the end, he stated that he couldn’t do any more good work, in his body’s condition. He is being welcomed into heaven to the verse of Matthew 25:21: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Calling hours will be Sunday October 15th from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at Falvo Funeral Home at 1295 Fairport Nine Mile Point Road, (Rte. 250) Webster, NY 14580. Please meet the family on Monday October 16th at 11:15am St. Rita's Church (1008 Maple Drive, Webster, NY 14580) for his Funeral Mass.
In lieu of flowers, Dave’s family would appreciate donations made to The Dave Vigren Memorial Discovery Charter School Library Fund. Please make checks payable to: Discovery Charter School and mail to 133 Hoover Drive Rochester, NY 14615.
Interment Webster Union Cemetery.
