Blog Post

Remembering Tom Ficklin

We were saddened to learn of the death of Tom Ficklin, a longtime New Haven community leader and an active member of CT Health’s fellows network.  This is a photo of Tom Ficklin

Tom’s roles included CEO and editor of the Inner City News, founder of Ficklin Media Group, host of the Tom Ficklin Show at WNHH FM radio, and chief information officer at Empower New Haven. He served as an alder in New Haven, and recently wrote a city resolution apologizing for the city’s role in blocking a Black college from being created in 1831. 

Tom graduated from the foundation’s Health Leadership Fellows Program in the class of 2011, and remained active in the network of program graduates. We had been looking forward to seeing him at an advocacy convening this week.  

“Tom was a true example of what it meant to be committed to community and health equity. He demonstrated what it looks like to put genuine care for others into action,” said Tiffany Donelson, president and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation. “Tom will be tremendously missed, but his legacy will live on in our state and beyond.” 

Read more about Tom’s life and impact in the New Haven Independent and the New Haven Register.