In Memoriam: USD Director Tom Handley
It is with great sadness that Union Sanitary District shares the news that Director Thomas R. Handley, 72, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Kaiser Permanente Fremont Hospital, surrounded by his family. Director Handley served the customers of Union Sanitary District for 24 years with distinction and dedication. The Union Sanitary Board of Directors and staff offer heartfelt condolences to the Handley family; his loss is deeply felt by the organization and USD community.
Tom first served as a USD Director for seven years beginning in 1995 before a job transfer took him out of state in 2002. He was appointed in 2007 to fill a retiring Director’s seat, then ran uncontested in 2008 and served consecutive terms until his passing. Most recently he served on the Board’s Audit, Budget and Finance, and Investment Portfolio Ad Hoc committees. Tom also served as the District representative to the Southern Alameda County Geographic Information System Authority and was instrumental in negotiating the most recent East Bay Dischargers Authority JPA.
As a USD Director, Tom modeled being a good fiscal steward with ratepayers' interests in mind. He prioritized USD’s delivery of services in a cost-effective manner while ensuring the District met all environmental regulations and focused on maintenance of USD’s infrastructure as key to protecting the environment while being fiscally conservative. Tom recognized the need to balance business interests while meeting environmental standards, encouraging collaboration with business customers to develop mutually agreeable and cost-effective guidelines and timeframes.
During Tom’s tenure, he provided guidance and direction through major District initiatives and upgrades to USD’s Union City treatment plant. The latest program benefiting from his support is the District’s Enhanced Treatment and Site Upgrade Program (ETSU), the largest capital improvement program in USD’s 106-year history. Tom’s many years of leadership have been integral to important programs that will serve the District’s customers now and for decades to come.
