Richard Hughes de Uriarte

Richard de Uriarte passed away peacefully with his family on September 23rd at the age of 77 in Phoenix, Arizona, surrounded by his family in hospice care.

Born in Darby, Pennsylvania, he grew up in Springfield, a suburb of Philadelphia. He graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School in Pennsylvania in 1965 and earned a bachelor's degree in international relations with an emphasis on Latin American studies from St. Joseph’s University in 1969, followed by a master’s degree in public affairs journalism from Marquette University in 1971.

He then traveled to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he began his journalism career in the early 1970s, working for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He later served as the press secretary for Jerry Apodaca, the governor of New Mexico, from 1975 to 1978. During this time, he met his future wife, Frieda de Uriarte, in Santa Fe, and they married in May 1979. He became a devoted stepfather to her four daughters, and they were married for 45 years.

That same year, he moved to Phoenix to join the Phoenix Gazette, covering politics and writing editorials. After the two newspapers merged, he worked as an editorial writer, columnist, and reader advocate at The Arizona Republic. He was a member of The Republic's editorial board for nearly 20 years, writing on a broad range of topics, including the Legislature and the state’s most prominent political figures, such as John McCain.

Following the merger, he served as the manager of communications for Maricopa County from 2008 to 2015. His career in media and government spanned 44 years. In 2009, the Phoenix New Times awarded him “Best Public Information Officer” in its yearly Best of Phoenix: People and Places listing.

His volunteer work included coaching basketball and teaching journalism at the South Phoenix Boys & Girls Club from 1993 to 2016. He also read to elementary school students at Bethune and other schools in the Phoenix Elementary School District. He served on the Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission from 2016 to 2024.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Loretta de Uriarte. He is survived by his sister Christine de Uriarte; brothers Paul de Uriarte, Jerry de Uriarte (Terry), and Brian de Uriarte; children Davida Cisneros (Fred), Roberta Cisneros-Filoso (Gary), Jennifer Cisneros (Jimmy), and Jessica Cisneros (Jerry); grandchildren David-Anthony Cisneros-Luebke, Marcello Zanzucchi, Emma Cisneros-Luebke, Maria Cisneros-Luebke, Sergio Mansoor, and Ava Mansoor; and step-grandchildren Samantha Filoso (Nicole) and Christine Wagner (KC).

Visitation hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2024, with a Rosary starting at 5 p.m. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 7, 2024, at St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 2312 E. Campbell Ave., Phoenix.