Mickey McArthur
In Memory of Mickey McArthur
Mickey McArthur, one of our very first Board members of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, passed away on April 6, 2009, in Tucson, from complications of a stroke. He was 81 years old.
Mickey was our secretary during the early years of SSSR, the land swap days. Although he had not been active with us in the last few years, we still saw him at events, and appreciated his continued support. He will be greatly missed.
From The Bulletin, April 15, 2009:
Mickey, born Marshall Earl McArthur, Jr., lived in Sonoita with his wife Karol. He was a proud graduate of Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha and Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he became a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. He had many business interests in a long career. He worked in an oil business; pioneered the use of anhydrous ammonia as the most efficient and economical source of agricultural nitrogen; sold a wide variety of farm supplies; and was in the egg production business. Eventually, those businesses were sold and replaced by his main interest – the profitable production of corn and soybeans on his farm near Eldridge, Iowa.
Mickey established lifelong friendships everywhere he lived, from Omaha, Nebraska, to Davenport and Eldridge, Iowa, to South Laguna Beach, California, to Indian Wells, California, and finally to Sonoita. He established strong ties in each community, most recently with his involvement in and service as president of the board of Sonoita-Elgin Emergency Services Incorporated, which has since become the Sonoita-Elgin Fire District.
Mickey was a lover of the outdoors – an avid hunter, hiker and body surfer. He also loved western art and collected it over many years, serving on the Western Art Council of the Palm Springs Art Museum when he lived in Indian Wells, California. He particularly enjoyed his long association with Cheley Colorado Camps. He and his sisters were campers, as have been his children and grandchildren. He was also pleased to have played a role in the formation and success of the John Austin Cheley Foundation, which provides scholarships for children to attend summer camp.
Mickey was an engaging, gregarious person who loved to talk with and keep in touch with people. He was a stalwart member of a group of men who met every Wednesday for lunch in order to discuss the important issues of the day. Mickey had few frustrations in life, but those he did have included the following, in no particular order: garlic, onions, smoking, and political liberals. Above all, he was an enthusiastic optimist who believed that anything in life is possible.
A memorial service to celebrate Mickey’s life (was) held on April 17th, at 1 pm at the Sonoita-Elgin Fire Station. Additional services were held in Eldridge, Iowa, and Estes Park, Colorado.
Charitable donations in his memory may be made to the following: The Sonoita-Elgin Fire District, PO Box 322, Sonoita, AZ 85637-0322, the development of which has been his passion for the past 20 years; the North Scott Education Foundation, Box 16, Eldridge, IA 52748, which provides college scholarships to deserving students; or the John Austin Cheley Foundation, 10565 Centennial Drive, Alpharetta, GA 30022-708, which sends worthy children of modest means to summer camps.
Mickey is survived by his wife Karol, of Sonoita; his daughter, Mary and her husband, Rick Juarez, of Alamo, California, as well as their daughters, Lisa and Emily; and his son, Max McArthur of Arroyo Grande, California. The youngest child of Marshall and Dorothie McArthur, Mickey was born in Omaha, Nebraska on September 29, 1927. He is also survived by his sister, Betty Heller, of Dayton, Ohio, and brother-in-law, Dick Holland, of Omaha, Nebraska, and their children and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Bess, who was the mother of his children; his sister, Mary Holland, of Omaha, Nebraska; and brother-in-law, Steve Heller, of Dayton, Ohio.
Fred Tahse
In Memory of Fred Tahse
Fred and Carol Tahse
Fred Tahse, an active member of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, and our Advisory Committee, passed away on July 2, 2009, at his home in Green Valley. He will be dearly missed.
Fred was a retired exploration geologist who helped SSSR unravel the intricacies of the geologic and hydrologic reports on the Rosemont Mine. His input was invaluable in our understanding of these issues, and was the basis of many of our comments to the Forest Service on the mine.
Carol, Fred’s wife of almost 50 years, is also an active member of SSSR, and our deepest sympathies go out to her and the entire Tahse family. We all will miss him greatly. Thank you both for all you have done for us, and the efforts to stop mining in the Santa Ritas.
Fred was a key part of our soon-to-be-released video, explaining the geology of the Santa Ritas, the economics, and the mining plan. These are some of the news articles he helped with.
Green Valley News, Fred Tahse, friend of Santa Ritas is remembered, July 18, 2009
Green Valley News, Letters, from the Editor, Who Calls the Shots as Life Winds Down? July 18, 2009
Green Valley News article about the economics of the mine, featuring Fred Tahse, by Dick Kamp, March 18, 2008
Green Valley News: Hard Facts About the Rosemont Mine, Jan. 29, 2008
Fred was a key part of the SSSR video, parts of which are on YouTube:
The Geology of the Santa Ritas, Rosemont area
The Realities of Open Pit Mining
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas gratefully acknowledges the following friends for their donation in honor of Fred Tahse.
Michele Sahm
Thomas Purdon
Richard and Ingeborg Calabro
John Schlaefli
William Oates
Mary Claire Heller
Elaine Stand
Russell Mead
Judith Berry
Susanna Cole
Ed and Dorothy Yoder
Bruce & Jean Juell
Joan D. and Sheryl A. Flynn
Annie McGreevy
Beverly Webster
Mary Lou Githens
Earnest Clark
Kelly Byrnes
Susan Lehman
Ray & Patsy Krider
Dr. Katherine Wong
Lee K. Davis
Jerry and Judi LeTendre
Ardith Nelson
Thomas & Louise Klepfel
Sally Ruschmeier
R. Ann Westrope
Mary Pulkrabek
William & Joan Blohm
James & Nina Clark
Sue & Paul Kievit
Judy Peters
Nick & Donna Shubin
Carol Hurst
Grant Alley
Melinda Trevino
Susan Forman
Patricia Mason
H Richard Jones
Sharon Rogers
Ms. Judith A. Seely
Dennis & Marie Cory
Keith & Sheryl McClellan
A thing is right if it tends to preserve the stability, integrity,
and beauty of the biotic community.
It is wrong if it tends otherwise.
Aldo Leopold, American environmentalist
George Trigaux
In Memory of George Trigaux
George Arille Trigaux, one of the founders of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas and a member of its original Board of Directors, died on May 29, at the age of 83 after a long struggle with cancer. George, was an avid birder, lover of nature and conservationist, passionate about protecting wildlife habitat. After he retired from business, he and his wife June traveled the world to visit the great birding sites as well as to learn about other cultures and environments. At home, in spite of declining health, he worked steadily to inform people about the devastating impacts open pit mining would have in the Santa Ritas. George tempered his ardor with a gentle, friendly, modest demeanor. His many friends in SSSR will miss his passion and his wisdom.
Read the handout from the memorial service: Page 1, Page 2
Save the Scenic Santa Ritas gratefully acknowledges the following friends for their donation in honor of George Trigaux.
Nancy and BIll Cook
Walt and Nancy Cobler
Don Weinstein and Beverly Parker
Clifford and Pamela Rand
Susan and Steve Perrius
Sally Hunter
Cliff & Karen Schwark
Raelene Gold
