Feature Stories 2020: John and Tom Findley: Keeping the Corsair tradition since 1984

Twin brothers John and Tom Findley ’84 skated into Dartmouth ready to make a mark. Starting with their ice hockey family, John and Tom planted roots at predecessor school Southeastern Massachusetts University. Today, they remain proudly connected to the Corsair community, doing their part to ensure that current students are able to attend UMassD.

Passing on the choice to attend a NCAA Division I college, the Findley brothers selected UMass Dartmouth instead so they could become a part of a smaller community closer to home. The chance to play hockey together on the same team sealed the deal.

Led by John in net and Tom at forward, the Corsairs won back-to-back ECAC Division III ice hockey championships in 1983 and 1984. Just one look at the faces in a photo of the team’s on-ice celebration shows how much that moment meant to the team.

“We were like a family, we tutored each other to make sure we stayed academically eligible and kept one another in line,” John said.

John was named the conference’s most valuable player and Tom earned honors as ECAC’s player of the year while leading the team in scoring. Both were inducted into the Corsair Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991. The team continues to stay in touch, playing in golf tournaments and supporting local causes.

“The best thing about going to UMassD was the friendships we built…36 years later and we still stay connected,” Tom said. “What I am really most proud of is how so many of our teammates have become so successful. I think athletics helped all of us understand the meaning of teamwork and success. I truly believe these two terms go together.”

John and Tom developed a deep connection to UMass Dartmouth during their time here that they are proud to continue today. In addition to their historic hockey teams and earning political science degrees, they also met their wives here. John’s wife Deborah (Roman) Findley is also a member of the class of 1984 and their daughter, Alexandra, is a 2011 graduate of UMassD. Tom’s wife attended then-SMU for two years.  

The Findleys are reminded of their connection to their alma mater on a daily basis. The brothers own and operate a shipping logistics company based in Randolph, Massachusetts, aptly named Corsair Logistics. “When we were thinking of a name for our first company, Tom and I had the same idea: name it after a place that we have so much pride in,” John explained.

The pair also own Red Line Freight Systems, a volume LTL/truckload and distribution carrier also headquartered in Randolph. “As we re-branded our company about five years ago, John and I put together a plan which included team-based business models,” Tom said. “It’s no secret that creating a team-first mentality is what led to our success as students and what is helping us to continue that in our business life.”

They recently made a gift to the Access to Excellence campaign to raise money for financial aid for students and have been long-time supporters of Corsair athletics. “We understand the need to help our community, especially a place that gave us so much,” John said. “It’s important to us to do something to give students an opportunity to enjoy the same positive experiences that we did while we were at UMassD.”

“We will continue to support UMassD and the values it has taught us: acceptance, understanding, listening, and kindness, which are the same values we instill in our businesses daily,” Tom said.