Last Witness To CU HistoryPasses

MANCHESTER, N.H. - (07/20/06) – Gilberte Boivin Brosseau, thelast living person to have been present at the 1908 opening ofAmerica’s first credit union, St. Mary’s Bank, passedaway last week. The 101-year-old Brosseau, the daughter of thepresident of St. Mary’s Bank, met at the opening withAlphonse Desjardin, the famous Quebecois credit union pioneer, andMonsignor Heve, who was the driving force behind the formation ofSt. Mary’s Bank. Ms. Brosseau’s childhood home was alsothe offices of the original St. Mary’s Bank and today is hometo America’s Credit Union Museum on Notre Dame St. Sheprovided organizers of the museum with details about the way thecredit union office and family home looked in 1908. Ms.Brosseau’s father, Joseph Boivin, was a practicing attorneywho became president of the credit union when it wasformed.