Graduate Pledges $700,000 for New Station

He was never a member of the Fire and Rescue Squads. In fact as a student he started a coffee house, "The Third Thumb," in Winooski, where he hosted folk musicians, including Buffy St. Marie. But native Vermonter Robert E. Sutton, Saint Michael's class of 1966, grew to admire the famed Saint Michael's College Fire and Rescue Squads. And his admiration prompted him in June to pledge a gift of $700,000 to enable the college to reach the $1.1 million goal established to build a new station house for the squads. (An additional $500,000 is still being sought from Saint Michael's Fire and Rescue alumni and friends to support equipment needs, furnishings and a building maintenance fund.)

Sutton, a resident of Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, is chairman and CEO of Denver-based Centrix Financial. He became attached to the Saint Michael's College student-run, 24/7 Fire and Rescue squads as a result of his own father's friendship with the squad's "father" Donald "Pappy" Sutton (no relation).

Robert Sutton's father, Roland Sutton has a close friendship with the Fire and Rescue retired chief, Donald Sutton, who founded the Saint Michael's squads in 1969. That friendship led Robert Sutton to visit the squads recently and discover a program that he regards as wonderfully character-building.

"The contribution made by every Fire and Rescue volunteer to Saint Michael's and its surrounding communities is extraordinary," said Robert Sutton. "Saint Michael's gave so much to me, and it's a privilege and honor to be able to give back in such a meaningful way. The idea that reaching out to our communities and neighbors is central to any well lived life has always been at the core of Saint Michael's vision. I am pleased that this new Fire and Rescue station will help the college further that goal while honoring the dedication of a truly singular member of the Saint Michael's community."

"The spirit of giving at Saint Michael's is exemplified in a very special way by our Fire and Rescue volunteers," said Saint Michael's College President Marc vanderHeyden. "Their generosity is mirrored in the magnanimous contribution of Bob Sutton, which will enable construction of a new station and thereby foster the continuation of Fire and Rescue's tradition of service to the College and local communities."


Robert Sutton background

After graduating with a degree in economics, Robert Sutton worked in insurance and marketing, established several venture capital funds, including one which developed a revolutionary infant monitoring device, LifeWatch Systems. He carried out real estate projects in Denver and acquired several financial services firms, purchasing Centrix Financial in 1997. At Centrix, Robert Sutton introduced a new business model designed to bring financial institutions, auto dealers and car buyers together in innovative, more secure and more efficient ways. As part of that model, Centrix introduced its core product, the patent-pending Portfolio Management Program, and currently manages a $1 billion portfolio.

Mr. Sutton and his wife Julie are heavily involved in Denver charities including Sacred Heart House of Denver, the Hospice of St. John's and the charitable efforts at this year's Grand Prix of Denver.

 

Proposed plans for the new station, front view