Obituaries

January 6, 2010

Eleanor Clark   |    Joey Kyle McGill   |   Chet Goldberg, Jr.

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eleanor clarkEleanor Clark

Long-time Cave Creek resident Eleanor Clark died on Dec. 11, 2009 in Tempe at the age of 90.

Eleanor was born on April 24, 1919 in Lowell, Massachusetts. She lived in California, New York, and New Jersey before moving to Arizona in 1966. In 1964 she married Theodore “Ted” Clark who preceded her in death on Feb. 11, 2007.

In 1940 Eleanor was granted a Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University. She majored in drama with minors in Fine Arts and English. She did graduate work in anthropology at Arizona State University from 1967 – 1969.

Eleanor had a successful and rewarding career for many years doing copy writing in advertising promotion, merchandising and sales promotion, as well as publicity and public relations. She worked for Life Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Dow Chemical and Sears. Her work involved extensive travel throughout the United States, as well as contacts with the press, radio and television.

Eleanor enjoyed travel, visiting countries in Europe and Africa. She accompanied her husband Ted to Indonesia where he was sent on business. While residing there, she did volunteer work for an Indonesian museum.

Public service was of great importance to Eleanor and she was involved in various church and community activities, including involvement in planning the annual Hunger Walk in Carefree.

Eleanor enjoyed entertaining and cooking, serving many wonderful gourmet meals to family and friends. She also enjoyed painting, taking art classes and teaching an art class at Friendship Village. Other activities Eleanor enjoyed included being a member of the Desert Foothills Archeological Society, playing in the percussion section of the Desert Foothills New Horizon's Band and participating in book discussion groups.

Eleanor is survived by step-daughter April Gagnon of Mesa; step-sons Brian Clark of Mesa and Kenneth Clark of Duluth, Minn., two grandsons, Casey Gagnon of Mesa and Jeff Gagnon of Seattle, Wash.; nephew Jeffrey Motyka of Tennessee; and grandniece Tracy Motyka.
A memorial service will be held on Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. at Friendship Village in Tempe. Her remains will be interred in the Memorial Garden at Christ the Lord Lutheran Church in Carefree.

Contributions in Eleanor's memory should be directed to Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Rd, Kanab, Utah 84741.

Joey Kyle McGillJoey Kyle McGill

Joey Kyle McGill, 27, died Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009.

Joey was born to Joseph and Terry McGill on July 6, 1982 in Phoenix, AZ.

Joey was raised in North Central Phoenix until the family moved to Cave Creek in 1997. Joey attended Cactus Shadows High School and Northern Arizona University. He was an avid outdoorsman and had a true zest for life.

Joey is survived by his parents Joe and Terry, his sister Kirsten Madland (husband Sean and children Chloe and Nolan), his sister Carrie Perrone (husband Ben and son Antone) and Grandmother Rita Judd. He is preceded in death by his Grandfather Ronald Judd, Grandparents Joseph and Evelyn McGill.

Services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday Dec. 26, 2009 at Desert Hills Presbyterian Church.
In honor of Joey, and in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Arizona Spinal Cord Injury Association, 5025 E. Washington, Suite 110, Phoenix, Arizona 85034.

chet goldberg, jr.Chet Goldberg, Jr.

1924-2009
Statesman, businessman, sportsman and family man Chet Goldberg, Jr. passed peacefully at his home on Monday, Dec. 28, at the age of 85, due to complications from congestive heart failure.

A Phoenix, Arizona native, Chet served three terms in the Arizona State Legislature – two in the House and one in the Senate. He applied his strong business acumen, which was a product of his bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Arizona, his masters’ degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration and his own innate practicality, towards guiding Arizona’s government into fiscal and regulatory soundness.
Chet spent three years in the Air Force during the Second World War, prior to graduating from college. Beginning in 1952 he worked for four years in the family business, a men’s and boy’s clothing store that his great-grandfather started in the 1870s. Its original name, Goldberg Brothers, changed to Hanny’s after the stores merged. Finding that the retail business didn’t leave him enough time to play golf, in 1956 Chet embarked on a career as a realtor, which offered more flexible hours.

Chet was an amateur golf and tennis champion, and a rising star in the bridge circuit, where he took a state championship. Sportsmanship came naturally to Chet in every sense of the word – he took his games seriously and played to win while remaining a gracious opponent. He was a perfect match for politics.

Chet began his first term in the Arizona House of Representatives in 1960 at the age of 35, after being urged to run by colleagues in the Young Republican Club. Two years later he joined Merrill Lynch and earned his securities investment license. In 1964 he was elected to a second term in the House of Representatives and in 1966 he was elected to the State Senate. This was the first time in the history of Arizona that the Senate had a Republican majority. Chet served as the Senate Majority Leader.

In 1971, Chet resumed his career as an investment broker. He remained active in community service, especially after he and Ann moved to Carefree in 1982, where he’s best known for being co-founder and first president of the Foothills Community Foundation, and for founding Desert Foothills Musicfest (now Arizona Musicfest). Chet served on boards and committees of many cultural organizations throughout his life, including founding the University Club.

Chet is survived by Ann, his wife of 45 years; his three children: son Chet III and wife Judy; son Gary and wife Patti; and daughter Gerin and husband Jim Suehiro; four grandchildren: Matthew Goldberg; Kristen Goldberg-Smetzer and husband Nick Smetzer; Jonathan Goldberg and wife Katherine; and Brandon Suehiro; also his sister-in-law Karin Ullmann, her daughter Holly, husband Steve Lewis and their daughter Sarah; and cousins, nephews and nieces.

There will be a Remembrance Celebration for Chet on Sunday, Jan. 10 at 1 p.m. at the Foothills Community Foundation’s new location at the Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Bldg. B, Scottsdale (60th St. and Carefree Hwy). Contributions may be made to the Foothills Community Foundation, or Arizona Musicfest, or any organization of your choice.