With sadness, we share that our dear Toastmasters friend, Antonio Figueroa, DTM, PDG, PRA, passed away early Thursday morning, September 5, at home in Jersey City. “Tony,” as he was known to most everyone (or, “The Godfather” to many of his Toastmasters friends) served District 46 as the 2005-2006 District 46 Governor.
2005-2006 was a challenging time for District 46, which then supported clubs in northern and central New Jersey as well as New York City, Westchester, Long Island and Rockland County. The District had gone well past the 200 mark in the number of clubs and grown too large to adequately support them all. As District 46 Governor, Tony reached out to Toastmasters International and initiated the process of “reformation,” which led to the District splitting in July 2008, and District being 83 formed to support the clubs in northern and central New Jersey as well as Rockland County and Richmond County (Staten Island) in New York state.
Tony was a “happy warrior” for Toastmasters, always eager to serve our members. Prior to being District Governor, Tony, who joined Toastmasters in 1996 as a charter member of Jersey Toastmasters Club (#7733), served in every club and District office, including as Area Governor, Division Governor, Lt. Governor Marketing (CGD), and Lt. Governor Education and Training (PQD). Four years after completing his successful 2005-2006 term as District Governor, Tony took on the challenging duty of serving as District Treasurer during 2010-2011.
As 2013-2014 Region Advisor, Tony assumed a key responsibility on the global stage of Toastmasters International. During his term, he was responsible for supporting six District teams in northeastern United States and the Maritime Provinces of Canada. By all accounts, his service and leadership were highly appreciated, and in 2018 Tony received a well-deserved Presidential Citation from Toastmasters International.
At the recent 2024 Toastmasters International Convention, held last month in Anaheim, California, Tony was greeted by long-time Toastmasters friends from all over the world, including from his “home District” of District 46. He will be greatly missed.
Born in 1942 in The Philippines, Tony earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from DeLasalle University (“the Yale of the Philippines”) in 1963 and, in 1969, the LLB degree in Law from the University of the Philippines. Arriving in the United States in the late 1970s, Tony worked for a variety of financial institutions, in accounting and auditing, including for Manufacturers Hanover Bank, Natwest, Mashreq Bank and Interchange Bank. In 2004, Tony went into business for himself as President of Ameritax Systems, Inc. Aside from Toastmasters, Tony was active in a number of other community organizations, including Junior Chamber of Commerce International (Jaycees), where he served as a JCI Senator, and as a Board member of Metropolitan Family Health Network, Inc.
We are still awaiting details on the wake and funeral service, and will provide them as soon as they are received. To Tony’s family and friends, we express our sincerest condolences.
Submitted by Mark LaVergne, DTM, Past International Director (1996-1998), D-46 PDG (1993-1994)
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