Robert Pettycrew
Anyone who has been in Scottsdale long enough has seen the trajectory of its growth, the transformation from a national afterthought to it becoming a national destination. Much of that happened in the 90’s and into the early 2000’s, and much of that growth is owed to the leaders who manifested it into reality.
One of those leaders, former Councilman Robert Pettycrew, recently passed away.
A long time resident of the city and graduate of Coronado High School, Pettycrew began his life of service in the Scottsdale Unified School District, also serving in the Parent-Teacher Association boards at Tonto and Yavapai Elementary Schools, spearheading the “Save Tonto Elementary School” efforts.
Public service soon became a core aspect of his person, as he continued that work as a member of the McDowell Sonoran Land Trust Advisory Board and Scottsdale Community Council. He also served on the Scottsdale Human Services Commission as well as the city’s Planning Commission.
From there he took the next step as he was elected to his first term on the Scottsdale City Council in 1994 and re-elected in 1998. During his time on council he was known for his focus on the preservation of the city’s environment and natural beauty, with a primary focus on the Sonoran Desert. In a city where all the attention was being focused on the growing north, Pettycrew was an anomaly: he was the most recent city councilmember elected from the south and no one has been elected from as far south as he was, and certainly no one with his degree of popularity and impact..
But civic service wasn’t the only notable aspect of his life. He followed up a career in public service and the telecommunications industry with a musical career, as a guitarist for the 74th Street Band, a rock band that made the rounds in the Scottsdale musical scene.
A Renaissance Man, a public servant, and a truly interesting human being. The city and the world would be significantly better off with many more Robert Pettycrew’s; may his legacy and life generate a spark for others to follow in his footsteps.