Published: June 27, 2009 02:35 pm      

Community mourns hospital CEO

EDMOND — The Edmond community will have the chance to mourn Edmond Medical Center CEO Tayo Fichtl before the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.

A memorial service for the 43-year-old health-care executive is scheduled for July 2 at the First Presbyterian Chruch of Edmond. He will be interned in Denver late in July.

Fichtl died unexpectedly of a massive heart attack Thursday night, saddening many in Edmond with the loss of such a caring and supportive community member.

“I think one of the biggest things that will be missed about him is he just brought a whole new level of enthusiasm,” said Leslie Buford, director of communications and community relations at Edmond Medical Center. “He really had the ability to light that fire of enthusiasm in our employees. He’s definitely going to be missed.”

Buford said the entire staff was shocked by the news Friday. Whenever the CEO walked through the halls of the hospital, he was treated like a rock star, she said. He knew almost all of his 550 employees by their first names and not only kept up with them professionally but also personally.

“I never heard anyone say a bad word about him,” Buford said. “He not only was a great boss, but he was a great person. He cared about every single employee.”

Mayor Patrice Douglas said Fichtl already had done so much for Edmond, after transferring here about two years ago with HCA, the parent company of Edmond Medical Center.

“He had done so much for the hospital and was a real friend to the city,” Douglas said. “I think we’re all in shock right now and want to rally around his wife and two sweet girls. We’re very saddened by his loss.”

Fichtl was to be the featured as the community CEO in The Edmond Sun’s new business magazine, The Business Times of Edmond, scheduled to launch in late July.

“I am blessed to be part of a wonderful and caring team,” he previously told The Sun in an interview for that feature. “The people who work at EMC are terrific as individuals but when we come together as a team we can accomplish anything.”

He also told The Sun he was blessed to have such a wonderful wife in Renee Fichtl and that he enjoyed spending time with his 4-year-old and 6-year-old daughters — pushing them on the swing set and attending their school events.

The day before his death, Fichtl sat next to Buford while both gave blood during the hospital’s blood drive.

“He was obviously a very hands-on CEO,” she said.

Fichtl always looked for opportunities for EMC to act as a good steward for the community.

“He was so excited about this weekend and that we would participate in Taste of Edmond and have a float in the (LibertyFest) parade,” Buford said.

The CEO also was a beloved member of the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce and its recently graduated Leadership Edmond class. Bob Ault, fellow Leadership member, said Fichtl really stood out in the group.

“His presence in and general outlook on the experiences and obstacles we faced during our class really showcased an individual that others aspire to and admire,” he said.

Ault said Fichtl really took him under his wing and plugged him into the Edmond community. During their interactions, Ault said he wasn’t dealing with the head of Edmond Medical Center, but rather was receiving guidance from an equal who was simply a servant at heart.

“Tayo isn’t going to be missed because he was an amazing businessman, wonderful husband and father, and community advocate,” Ault said. “He was all those things, but his legacy will forever be remembered as someone who made all of us around him strive to be better. I will never be able to think of Tayo without a smile coming to my face, a gut feeling telling me that there is always more that I can do, and that I mustn’t forget the joys of life.”

Ken Moore, president and CEO of the Edmond chamber, said Fichtl was a member of the chamber for more than a year and liked by all who knew him.

“He will be missed as a member of our leadership team,” he said. “In a short period of time he had a significant impact on the organization by bringing thoughtful and constructive comments about issues and strategic direction.”

Fichtl served in a variety of positions in health-care organizations throughout Arizona, Colorado and Texas. In addition to his health-care management experience, Fichtl served as a second lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, 108th Field Artillery of the Arizona Army National Guard.

Mary Drake, the hospital’s chief nursing officer, is leading the hospital’s administration team to determine what to do in Fichtl’s absence.

The family requests memorials be made to the Fichtl Children Education Fund, c/o Edmond Medical Center, 1 S. Bryant, Edmond, OK, 73034.