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This page is dedicated to friends of the museum who have passed on
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We, the directors and volunteers of the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, grieve the passing of DEA Group Supervisor Michael Garbo in the line of duty outside our museum. Our prayers are also with the two other officers who were wounded, for an uneventful recovery at the hospital. We are saddened that this violence continues on trains from the many past years of history here and elsewhere.
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Richard Gray “Dick” Guthrie, “the trolley guy,” died peacefully at the age of 88. He attended the University of Arizona, graduating in 1955 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. At the end of his active-duty Navy time, Richard affiliated with the Naval Reserve Construction Battalion – Seabees – retiring as a Commander in 1982. Richard was privileged to have an additional career as the City of Tucson Electrical Engineer and traffic operations supervisor, known for encouraging the astronomy friendly dark-skies. In 1983, as part of the 1985 University of Arizona Centennial, Dick and W Eugene “Gene” Caywood began a ten-year effort to “bring back the streetcar,” which had been a major part of local transportation in Tucson’s early years, as Old Pueblo Trolley, Inc., our parent institution.
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Dan Hicks – He started his 40 year career with Southern Pacific Railroad on November 21, 1971 as a brakeman and later was promoted to conductor. Dan was involved with many railroad programs during his career which included Operation Life Saver, Operation Redblock, Peer Support, United Way, and Red Cross. After he retired in 2011, Dan joined NARVRE (National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees). He became President of Unit 63 here in Tucson. Dan also loved working at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum helping with displays and talking to visitors from all over the world. He sat on the board of the museum to offer suggestions of how to improve it. His obituary can be viewed here
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“Downtown” Judy Dare
Longtime volunteer, docent, and board member
Our dearly loved Volunteer, Judy Dare, passed away on Oct. 24, 2023 after a short illness. She was 85 years young and will be forever missed by her family and her beloved Tucson Community.
She was born and raised on an 80-acre farm in Bennington Nebraska. While attending college she got married and had 3 children. She got her BA degree from Northern Arizona University Flagstaff and started teaching High School Home Economics for the next 15 years. She arrived in Tempe Arizona in 1974 and got her Master’s degree in Food and Nutrition from ASU. She then worked for the State of Arizona establishing new guidelines for school lunches, securing several federal grants to develop programs and publish brochures. She also taught Food and Nutrition at Mesa Community College in the evenings.
She loved being in the outdoors, camping and hiking, and enjoyed playing tennis.
Upon retirement, she moved to Tucson and became very active and passionate about volunteering. She called it her “Second Career” and it brought her joy and satisfaction every day. She owned an historic house in the West University Neighborhood and eventually sold it and moved to Redondo Towers.
She had a steadfast and enduring support of Local causes, both Arts/Historic venues and Essential Care Facilities. Some of the Historic organizations she supported in Tucson were the Old Pueblo Trolly, Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, The Fox Theater, Tucson Museum of Art, and The Tucson Pops Orchestra.
The local Essential Care Facilities she supported with her time and money were The Unitarian Universalist Church, Sister Jose’s Women’s Shelter, The Gospel Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, and The Community Food Bank.
On a national level, she supported the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, National Organization of Women, National Parks, Sierra Club, and Compassionate Choices, to name a few.
She is survived by her twin daughters, Julie and Jodi, her son, Tom, granddaughter Sarah, along with 2 step-grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
“Rest in Peace” Judy and we will all work together in the Tucson Community to fill the shoes you have left behind.
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