ATU Local 1005 mourns death of longtime officer Tommy Bellfield

Members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1005 are mourning the death of Tommy Bellfield, the local’s longtime financial secretary-treasurer.

Bellfield became ill late last year and died January 29 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. He was 56 years old.

Bellfield first won election as ATU Local 1005’s financial secretary-treasurer in 2008, defeating the incumbent. He later ran for re-election for additional terms without opposition.

Bellfield joined Metro Transit as a bus operator in 1991 and later worked as a light rail dispatcher.

He won election to the executive board of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation in 2015, serving as sergeant-at-arms through 2024.

Bellfield also was active in Local 1005’s Black Caucus and in the MRLF’s People of Color Union Members caucus.

“Tommy was a remarkable soul who had a way of making everyone he met feel uplifted,” said David Stiggers, Local 1005 president. “His infectious smile, unmistakable laugh, and boundless heart made him truly unforgettable.”

“You knew that smile was there to light up the day,” said MRLF president Chelsie Glaubitz Gabiou, who took office the same year that Bellfield joined the MRLF executive board. “He was the presence you need to know everything will  be okay.”

Bellfield resigned his Local 1005 position a few weeks before his death. In announcing the news, the Local 1005 officers said in a statement: “Tommy has been more than a leader — he has been a steadfast advocate, a mentor, and a friend to so many of us. His commitment to representing our members and upholding the values of our union has left an indelible mark on this local.”

A celebration of the life of Tommy Bellfield is planned for Saturday, March 15, from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m., at the GrandStay Hotel and Conference, 7083 153rd St. W., Apple Valley.