Obituaries

Ian B. Tippet, the man who brought Broadway musicals, hootenannies, recitals, and concerts to Glacier National Park at Many Glacier Hotel for decades, died of natural causes on March 9, 2020, in Arizona. He was 88.Ian B. Tippet (Mr. T) was born July 27, 1931, in Devonshire, England, the son of William Roberts Kerby Tippet and Henrietta Winifred Parker (Sanders)...

Barbara Wusich Young passed away on February 23, 2020 with her family by her side. Barbara was born on February 17, 1936 in Phoenix, Arizona, the only child of Nicholas Daniel Wusich and Elizabeth “Bette” Statler Wusich Stofft. Barbara was a second-generation Arizonan and delighted in telling the story of her grandmother, Flora Mae Gillett-Statler Ludden, who founded and developed...

Joan Bliss Bingham Caruso, our beautiful, funny, kind and loving mother passed away on March 17, 2020, age 87. She will be greatly missed by her many dear and loyal friends, devoted family, son Christopher, daughter Lisa Borgardt (Bryon), and her grandchildren, Bryn and Brayden Borgardt. At Mother’s request, there will be no services. She hopes that people will remember...

On Monday, March 9, 2020, William J. Cuddihy, loving husband, father, and son passed away at age 55.Bill, or Joe as he was known by those close to him, was born on May 6, 1964 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to William and Dorothy Cuddihy. He was a veteran, of the United States Marines from 1981 to 1991, after being honorably...

“Be first, be smarter, be honest” was the hallmark of the life and times of Howard L. Bell. Howard passed away peacefully Monday, March 2, 2020 after losing the battle with pneumonia. “The good fight is now over, My Brother. Rest and walk with the Lord.” Howard is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marian, and his two sons:...

John J. St. Angelo, 90, from Massapequa, New York, died peacefully on February 10, 2020 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was born on January 16, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York to Anna Montana and Gustave St. Angelo. He was married on May 30, 1953 in Queens Village, New York, to the love of his life, Josephine (Joanne), and spent 66 happy...

Allan Jaynes Stanton, a 2nd-generation AZ native and lifelong resident, prolific father and longtime lobbyist, died in the early morning of Monday, March 9, 2020 with loving family by his side. Born to Filmore Stanton and Dorothy Jaynes in the eastern AZ mining town of Morenci on April 26, 1931 and raised in nearby Clifton, Allan excelled academically and athletically...

Leroy Bess, 53, of Tempe passed away on March 12, 2020.He is survived by his son Justin, sister Lena and partner Matt, of 31 years.A private Memorial Service to celebrate Leroy’s life will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 East Indian School Road in Phoenix. For those who wish...

Marcos A. Ruiz, 96, of Phoenix, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2020. He was raised by his mother Ines Chacon in Arizona.He served in the United States Army for 21 years as a medical specialist. He earned the rank of Staff Sergeant serving in WWII and two tours during Viet Nam.He is survived by his five children, his brother...

Robert Joseph Klem, 65, died peacefully in his sleep on Monday, March 9, in Phoenix, following a long battle with Multiple Myeloma.Born in Rochester, N.Y., on March 18, 1954, the son of Gerard and Alice Klem, Robert moved to Phoenix in 1979, where he was employed by the Phoenix Public Library and CopperPoint Insurance Companies.Bob was a walking encyclopedia on...

September 8, 1942 the world was blessed with the presence of Greta Alelia Backus. Greta lived her life to help others through her career, her art, and her love. She was a social worker for almost 40 years and helped to start essential government programs such as WIC in her hometown of Warren, Ohio. She is preceded in death by...

Amor Cosio Villareal, 83, died peacefully at her home in Paradise Valley, Arizona on Monday, March 9, 2020, with her loving husband and family at her side. She was born on August 15, 1936 in Santa Cruz, Laguna, Philippines, to Deogracias and Consuelo (Marzan) Cosio. Amor received her undergraduate and medical degrees from The University of the Philippines, graduating summa...

John William Moore, Sr., 84, passed away at home in Paradise Valley on March 7, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sarabeth, his children, Anne Moore (Vinny Allen) of Bethesda, MD, Amy Mandala, of Tucson, and John William Moore, Jr. (DeeDee) of Phoenix; his sister, Barbara Rider; his grandchildren, Jack and Michael Mandala, Emma Moore, and...

Peter O. Gill, a resident of Mesa, AZ, lost his long struggle with Alzheimer’s on February 28, 2020, at the age of 78.  He is survived by his wife, JoAnne, their children, Laurie, Greg, Rebecca and Kristen; 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren; two sisters from Muskegon, Janet Gill and Connie Dalgren.  Peter was born in Muskegon, MI on August...

PHOENIX – Erminio “Shorty” Perea, 81, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 27, 2020 in his Phoenix home following a short but hard-fought battle with metastatic mesothelioma.Erminio was born May 28, 1938 in Alpine, Texas. The Perea family moved to Ray-Sonora, Arizona in 1948 where he later met his future wife and love of his life, Angie (Perez). He enlisted...

Alda Moravec, 95, of Phoenix, AZ passed away on March 1, 2020 after succumbing to a serious illness. Alda was a gentle soul that made the world become a more beautiful place on November 26, 1924 as Alda was born in Massachusetts and then moved to Connecticut where she was raised under her Mother’s strong Portuguese heritage.Alda later moved to...

Marion Elizabeth Winne Birmingham, 84, passed on February 23rd, 2018 surrounded by her family in Scottsdale, Arizona. She battled non-smoking stage four lung cancer for nearly two years.Marion was born on June 25th, 1933 to Harris Bell Winne Jr. and Marie Louise Johanna Mollenkopf Winne in Moon Township, PA. She graduated from Moon High School (1951) and became a Registered...

Al Birmingham, age 87, (2-28-1933 to 2-20-20) was the guy you wanted in your corner: endlessly supportive and positive, quick to offer advice or a favor — magnanimous to a fault.Allen “Al” George Birmingham was born in Coraopolis, PA as one of the 8 children born to George and Helen Birmingham. Al started his lifelong love of golf as a...

Sharon Kay Gardner, Dallas, Texas, 77, passed away March 2, 2020 surrounded by her Husband and Loved ones. She was preceded in death by her parents Jeff and Sybil Hunter, brother Jerry Hunter and her youngest son Lanny Lee Gardner. She will be forever missed by the love of her life, her “Sweetie Pie” Roddy Arnold Gardner, her children Mitchell...

PHOENIX – Antoinette DiGiovanni Smith, 95, surrounded by her family entered heaven on March 1, 2020 at the Hospice of Valley home in Scottsdale, Arizona.Antoinette, known by many as Annette, was born in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn, New York on June 5, 1924. She was preceded in death by her parents, Silvio and Julia Ramoino, twin brother Adolph,...