Funeral scheduled for Saturday for Mesa businessman Cardon

Funeral details have been announced for Mesa businessman and politician Wil Cardon. Cardon died Saturday. He was 46. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints Chapel, 4225 N. 56th Street in Phoenix.

Cardon died of suicide. He struggled for years with depression, according to a statement from his wife, Nicole.

Cardon’s family encouraged people to remember his smile “that was as wide as Arizona,” especially when it came to his five children.

“His gregarious approach to life, business, our family and his faith enriched all who were fortunate to enjoy his warm embrace,” Nicole Cardon said.

She said he fought “mightily” to overcome depression.

“We are proud of how he faced this disease with openness and honesty,” she said. “Today, it finally took him, as it takes far too many.”

Cardon attended Mesa Mountain View High School, later graduating from Stanford University after transferring from Brigham Young University. He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School before taking over his family’s Mesa-based real estate investment business, the Cardon Group.

Cardon ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in 2012 against Jeff Flake, and for secretary of state in 2014.

Cardon hailed from a pioneer Arizona family.

The Cardon Oil Co. was founded by Wilford Pratt “Pat” Cardon, Cardon’s grandfather, who died in 1969. Wilford A. Cardon, Cardon’s father, is credited with growing the petroleum and gasstation business, expanding into convenience stores, and real-estate investment and development. The Cardon Group’s portfolio includes Subway and Dunkin’ Donuts stores, among numerous other investments.