Cecilia Kruchko-Smith, 1952-2025, former Scientology employee, beloved Bunkerite
We received the news this morning via Karen de la Carriere that one of our longest tenured figures at the Underground Bunker, former AOLA Treasury employee Cecilia Kruchko-Smith, died suddenly yesterday. She was 72.
She was known in the Bunker as Cece “Tigger” Smith, and for many years was a daily presence in our comments, and also behind the scenes often emailed us with helpful tips.
She was a former Scientologist who had spent more than 20 years working at the Advanced Organization Los Angeles until she was suddenly kicked out in a bizarre incident, but how we knew her was as a free spirit who spent her later years nearly always on the road, and reporting back to us from desert campgrounds and other beautiful places.
In a 2015 Facebook post, she explained that in 1996 she had been working steadily at AOLA when she was put on a lighter schedule for health reasons. But when Jenny Linson, a David Miscavige pet, found out that Cece was working shorter hours, she blew up at her and gave her 15 minutes to leave the entire world she knew.
Cece had to leave behind everything, including a husband and children.
She took to the road and never really left it, as far as we can tell. She endured more tragedy last year when she lost her oldest daughter. But she remained a stalwart member of this community, showing compassion for any other Scientologist who had been tossed out or who was fighting against the church in litigation.
We will miss her encouraging emails and updates at the comment section. And she will remain with us as a member of the everlasting pod.
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Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history
Avast, Ye Mateys: Snapshots from Scientology’s years at sea
Overheard in the Freezone: Indie Hubbardism, one thought at a time
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RIP, Cecilia.
Scientology, come work for us. Here the word Human Resources is never used in polite company and all staff are subject to abuse without recourse.
I will miss Cece.
"A dragon lives forever,
But not so little boys."
Apparently little girls too,