SOLITO, Samuel John, 83 years of age, beloved husband and father, passed away on November 15, 1997 in Hemet, CA. He is survived by his wife, Iola Keyser Solito; children, Patricia Roll, Janet Carter, Nancy Keyes, Carolyn Jenson, Harold Keyser, Stephen Keyser; sister, Mary Jane Prophet; 19 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Samuel has been in the Real Estate business in Tucson for 31 years and worked for Fareway Realty in Hemet for the last five years. Services will be held at the Holy Hope Cemetery, Mausoleum, Saturday, November 22, 1997 at 11:00 a.m. Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.
CASADEI, Gina A, 72, died November 17, 1997. Survived by her husband of 50 years Norino; daughters, Patricia (Ladd) Kleiman, Laurie (Gary) Gryder; sons, Michael (Rosemary) and John (Lori) Casadei; grandchildren, Michele, Michael, Daniel, Ben, Monica, Erin, Sam, John and Nick; Aunt Victoria Pagot; brother and sisters-in-law, Joe and Mildred Casadei, Mary Cicala, Edna Scotta; long time friend, Mary Bogdan and many loving nieces and nephews. The family founded Mamma Louisa’s Lacantina Restaurant in 1956. Gina will be remembered by many for her Italian cooking. Friends may call 6:00 p.m. till 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary to be held at 7:00 p.m. November 19, 1997, at EAST LAWN PALMS CHAPEL, 5801 E. Grant Road. Funeral Mass will be 9:00 a.m. November 20, 1997 at St. Joseph’s Church, 215 S. Craycroft. In lieu of flower’s contributions may be made to TMC Hospice, 5301 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85712.
Real J. Daigle Sr., 57, of Tucson, formerly of Lewiston, ME and Windsor Locks, CT, passed away November 17, 1997. Pastor Daigle was born November 14, 1940, St. Ignace, N. Brunswick, Canada, son of Emilienne (Gallant) Daigle of Lewiston, ME and the late Nazaire Daigle. He graduated from Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA in 1977 after which he served as and Evangelist in New England. In 1978 he founded the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Lewistown, ME and served as Pastor until 1985. During this time, Pastor Daigle co-founded the New Hope Gospel Mission and Lighthouse Bible Institute both in Lewiston and co-founded a children’s ministry, ”My Farm” in Gray, ME. He was Director of Williams S. Dunn Camp in Oxford, ME. Upon moving to Arizona in 1986 he was an Evangelist Missionary in the State of Sonora, Mexico, President of the Living-Giving International Ministry, the purpose of which ”is to coordinate American Ministries in locating and assisting Mexican Ministries which are in need. The main purpose of this ministry is to see souls saved for Jesus and to have God receive the glory. Survived by his wife of 35 years, Shirley A. (Berube) Daigle; his mother; children, Real J. Daigle, Jr., Rev.Brian N. Daigle, both of Tucson, Roland T. (Tammy) Daigle of Lewiston, ME, Corina M. (Whitney) Scott of Cochise, AZ; grandchildren, Markus and Grace Scott of Cochise, AZ, Ashley Daigle of Tucson and Zachery Daigle of Lewiston, ME; brothers, Leo (Priscilla) Daigle of Duncanville, TX, Dolphe (Bonnie) Daigle of Laurel, DE; sisters, Lisa (Julien) Carrier of Wilmington, DE, Rose (Ret. Maj. Daniel, USM) Valle of Chelmsford, MA and Angelia (Harold) Saucier of Auburn, ME. Memorial Service, Thursday, 2:00 p.m., First Southern Baptist Church, 445 E.Speedway Blvd. Private interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Arrangements by EVERGREEN MORTUARY & CEMETERY. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Living-Giving International Ministry, PO Box 78238, Tucson, AZ 85703,
Anthony (Tony) Diamontopoulosuf, 79, of Tucson, died November 18, 1997.Survived by wife of 56 years Persephone (Percy); son, Bill (Audry) of CA; daughter, Penny Ann (George) Boise of ID; grandchildren, Tia and A.J.; sister, Jean McDonald; brother, Ted. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Thursday at St. Damitrios Greek Orthodox Church, 1145 East Ft. Lowell, with Fr. Anthony Moschonas officiating. Trisagion Service will be at 7:00 p.m. at VALLEY FUNERAL HOME, 2545 North Tucson Boulevard (1 1/2 blocks north of Grant Road) – 327-6341.
ESSLINGER, William B., 75, passed away November 15, 1997 after a long illness with cancer. He was the son of A. William and Mary L. Esslinger, and was born September 14, 1922 in Detroit, MI. Bill is survived by his wife of 52 years, Mary C. Esslinger; their three sons, Rev. William C. (Loretta), Steven R. and Timothy M; two grandchildren, David (Christina) and Jennifer Perin; two great grandchildren, Aubrey and Kristen Perin; sisters, Phyllis (Arthur) Colville of Tucson and June (Arthur) Land of Okemos, MI. He was preceded in death by his parents. Bill grew up in Royal Oak, MI and was a very active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. He attended the local schools there, and after graduating from high school, Bill entered the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan. However, World War II interrupted his college education; he enlisted in October, 1942 and was discharged in November 1945. After training at various secret locations in the vicinity of Washington, D.C., he served with the OSS in Africa and Europe. In September 1945, Bill returned from overseas and he and Mary R. Coen were married October 10, 1945 in Kewanee, IL. He then finished his college education and graduated from the University of Michigan with the Class of 1948 with a BS degree in Civil Engineering. After graduation, he was employed by the William Esslinger Company, a commercial-industrial construction firm located in the Detroit area. He worked there from 1948 to 1953 and was the Corporate Treasurer. During this period of time, Bill became qualified and was accepted as a member of the Society of Professional Engineers. In January 1953, Esslinger and his family moved to Tucson, where he was employed by the Ashton Company, a commercial-industrial and engineering firm. He was a Vice-President and a Member of the Board of Directors. In 1960, DEFCO Construction Company, a commercial-industrial and engineering corporation was formed and Esslinger was the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors. Very shortly thereafter, Mr. Esslinger bought the stock of the other two original stockholders, and then was the sole stockholder. In 1966 or 1967, he became the major stockholder. DEFCO added two subsidiaries, ADECO, an architectural and engineering firm and Grant Office Co., which was owned and managed by DEFCO. Under Esslinger’s leadership, DEFCO successfully completed many construction projects in the Tucson and Phoenix areas and over most of the state of Arizona. William B. Esslinger, after having emergency open-heart surgery in the spring of 1976, sold his entire holdings in DEFCO and retired on June 1, 1977. Esslinger was a past member and Chairman of the Board of Appeals for the City of Tucson, a member of the Board of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association; Bill was a Past President of the Arizona Building Chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America, and served on several National Committees for the Association. He was a life time member of the American Institute of Contractors, a past member of The National Society of Professional Engineers. He served as a Past Chairman of the Advisory Board for Pima County Building Codes Department. He was Past President of the Rincon Exchange Club and served on various committees with the YMCA. In accordance with Mr. Esslinger’s wishes, a private memorial service will be held and his brother-in-law, Rev. Philip R. Cowen of Kerrville, TX will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Carondelet Hospice Foundation, 1601 West St. Mary’s Road, Tucson, AZ 85745-2682. Arrangements by BRING’S MEMORIAL CHAPEL 236 S. Scott.
FLORIAN, Hope Constance, died Monday, November 17, 1997. She was born July 19, 1909, in Toledo, OH, and has resided in Tucson for the past forty years. Mrs. Florian is survived by: one daughter, Mabel Deeg (Ken) of Tucson; one sister-in-law, Stella Greene of Sylvania, Oh.; three grandchildren, Bill Deeg of Chandler, AZ, Chuck Deeg of Phoenix, AZ, Tom Deeg of San Jose, CA; ten great-grandchildren, Shannon, Stacey, Chris, Kenny, Cara, Cody, Josh, Ricki, Dara and Nicky. Mrs. Florian was preceded in death by husbands Gilbert Stewart in 1966, and E.G. Florian in 1996. She was a Charter member of La Estrellita Chapter of A.B.W.A., and had retired from the Southern Arizona Bank in 1973. Friends may call at ADAIR FUNERAL HOME 1050 North Dodge Boulevard (Dodge at Speedway), on Wednesday, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday at Christ Church United Methodist, 655 North Craycroft Road. Burial will follow later in Oregon, OH. The family has requested that contributions may be made to the Clark/Ashcraft Music Endowment Fund at Christ Church United Methodist, in lieu of flowers.
Coach Mike (Healey) former Tucson Youth Football Raiders and Pop Warner Eagles and Broncos Coach. Service in Memory of Coach Mike will be November 22 at Lakeside Park, Ramada #2, 1:00 p.m. Inquiries 297-1597.
HINTON, Ann Brookshire, died November 17, 1997 in Austin, Texas of cardiac arrest. She was born June 24, 1933 at Henderson, TX, grew up in Lufkin and earned a B.S. degree in Library Science from the University of North Texas. She was a librarian in Odessa, TX where she met her husband, Harwood P. Hinton. Anne earned her masters degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and organized and ran a junior high library there. Anne moved with Harwood to Texas A&M in 1960 where he taught history, then moved to the University of Arizona, Tucson. She was active in the American Association of University Women (state scholarship chair), PEO officer, U of A Women’s Faculty Club (pres.), Girl Scouts and the Presbyterian Church. In Tucson she reared three children, John H. Hinton, Mary B. Hinton and James R. Hinton. She and her husband moved to Austin in 1991. Anne was active in the Northwest Hills Garden Club and was current Secretary for the Cushing Library Development board at Texas A&M University. Anne is survived by her husband of 41 years and two children, Mary H. Cox and James R. Hinton of Houston, TX and two grandchildren, Anthony P. Cox and Madeline B. Cox. Burial will be on November 19 at 2:00 p.m. at Laurel Land Cemetery in Dallas. Memorials may be forwarded to the John H. Hinton Memorial Library Endowment, Sterling C. Evans Library, Texas A&M University College Station, TX 77843-5000. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, Austin, TX 78705, 512-452-8811.
LAWLOR, George D. Jr., 60, of Tucson, passed away November 17, 1997. He is survived by wife, Pamela; son, George; mother, Grace Lawlor; sisters, Grace Cafaro and Ruth Lorusso. Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 21, 1997 at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, 9071 East Old Spanish Trail, Tucson, AZ. In lieu of flowers, family suggest donations be made to the American Heart Association. Arrangements by HUDGELS SWAN FUNERAL HOME, 22nd and Swan.
MEHLE, Mildred ”Millie” Jean, 61, died November 17, 1997. Wife of Ray Mehle of Tucson; mother of Maria (Patrick) Caldwell of Tucson; grandmother of Ellen Rae Caldwell and Lydia Joy Caldwell. Funeral Service, 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 22, 1997 at BRING’S BROADWAY CHAPEL. Entombment in East Lawn Mausoleum. Mrs. Mehle was a member of WAIMMES. Donations may be made in Mrs. Mehle’s memory to Tucson Heart Hospital, 4888 North Stone Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85704. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday, November 22, at BRING’S BROADWAY CHAPEL, 6910 E. Broadway.
NIELSEN, Robert, 92, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, November 16, 1997.
Born in Hamburg, Germany, Robert’s family moved to Chicago when he was three years old. In 1943 Robert came to Tucson where he was affiliated with the Arizona Inn for 31 years.
Robert is survived by his wife, Ruby; children, Beecher Davis, Kent (Maudie) Davis and Martin Davis; grandchildren, Bill, Liz, Lora Lee, Jessica, Bryan, Nicholas; and his niece, Suzanne Gross.
Robert’s presence, gentle manner, and kindness will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Private burial will be held at East Lawn Palms Cemetery. A Memorial Service for Robert will be arranged later.
PETTIJOHN, William, 89, of Tucson, died November 14, 1997. Predeceased by wife, Rebekah. Survivors include, two children, Julia Potter of Rockaway, NJ and W. Thomas Pettijohn of Bayside, WI; three grandchildren, Louis Jeffrey Potter, Joy Elizabeth Potter, and William T. Pettijohn; brothers, Frances and Richard; sister, Elizabeth Dedolph. Mr. Pettijohn was born in Menomonee Falls, WI, graduated from the University of Minnesota, he spent 20 years in the mining industry in Africa. He retired from Golf and Western and the Ralph M. Parsons Company and was on the Board of Directors of the Hecla Mining Co. of Idaho. Mr. Pettijohn was a member of the Tucson Country Club, A.I.M.E. and American Mining Congress. He will be greatly missed by his loving family and friends. Memorial will be held at ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, DODGE CHAPEL, November 22, 1997 at 4:00 p.m. with Reverend David Ray officiating. Memorial donations may be made to American Heart Association. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, DODGE CHAPEL.
POND, George B. ”Jack” 83, of Tucson, passed away November 16, 1997. He is survived by Dorothy, his loving wife of 56 years. A University of Arizona graduate, Jack retired from Valley National Bank as a Vice President in 1978 after 41 years of service. He was active in several civic, agricultural, and educational organizations which include the University of Arizona Foundation and was a member of the Board of Trustees at Tucson Medical Center. Remembrances may be made to the Vencare Hospice or the charity of your choice. Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, November 20 at 11:00 a.m. at EAST LAWN PALMS CHAPEL, 5801 E. Grant Road.
RAYL, Marian F., 78, of Tucson died November 15, 1997. Survived by one son, Donald F. Rayl; two daughters, A.J.S. Rayl and Susan J. Rayl; two grandchildren, Eric and Crystal Rayl. Marian was born on December 7, 1918 in Binghamton, NY. She attended Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky from 1937 to 1939, then enrolled in Johns Hopkins Hospital School of nursing in 1939, where she earned her R.N. Degree in September, 1942. She moved to Tucson in 1963 and worked as a nurse at U of A Student Health Services, Carl Hayden Hospital and in private care. Marian spent her life-giving to others and she will be greatly missed by her loving family and friends. Services will be private. Arrangements made by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, DODGE CHAPEL 1050 N. Dodge Boulevard.
REDZINAK, Beverly ”Bear”, 64, of Tucson, died November 17, 1997. She was a wife, mother and grandmother. She is survived by her husband, John Redzinak; children, Steve, Butch, Jeff Hite, Carol Sweeney, Leeanna Gould, Deeanna Selman and Michelle Phipps. She is also survived by 18 wonderful grandchildren. She was affiliated with the Knights of Columbus, American Legion, and VFW. Friends may call at ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES AVALON CHAPEL, 8090 North Northern Avenue, (@ Magee) from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 19, 1997 with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 20, 1997 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 8650 North Shannon Road. Entombment will follow at Holy Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Knights of Columbus Council #1200 Vocations.
Michael Sebring, October 15, 1961 to November 16, 1997. Beloved son, brother and friend with a heart so full it would not Contain him, taken from us suddenly at the young age of 36. He was born too soon and too small, but he was a fighter and remained so all life. He marched to the beat of a different drummer, but we loved him for it. He did things his own way and on his own terms. Survived by mother, Sylvia; brother, Hugo; sisters, Becky (Jim), Delia (Matt), Bea (Mark), and Sylvia (Mike). Nieces, Nina, Kathryn, and Sammy; nephews, Galen, Mikey, Drew, Spencer, and Vincent. We are irreparably injured by our loss and will carry you with us always. We miss our hero, Uncle Knucklehead. Visitation at Southlawn Mortuary, 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m. Thursday November 20, 1997. Memorial on Friday, November 21, at 10:00 a.m. at Southlawn Mortuary. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Casa de Los Ninos, 1138 N. 5 Ave., in the name of ”Uncle Michael”.
