Remembering an iconic Arizonan
Friends, family, admirers and laughter filled the auditorium at a memorial service Saturday honoring Eddie Basha, a grocer, education advocate, philanthropist and prankster who died March 26.
The service at Arizona State University’s Gammage auditorium drew 1,550 people, from elected officials to Bashas’ employees.
A who’s who of Arizona politicians turned out to pay respects, from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who was in the state for a border visit; to Gov. Jan Brewer; to U.S. Reps. Kyrsten Sinema and Ed Pastor. In addition to Napolitano, other former governors attending were Bruce Babbitt, Rose Mofford
People line up at ASU Gammage for a memorial service on Saturday honoring the life of Eddie Basha. PHOTOS BY PAT SHANNAHAN/THE REPUBLIC and Fife Symington, to whom Basha lost in a hard-fought 1994 campaign for governor.
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton noted the lack of VIP seating at the event and called it fitting for a man who did not put on airs. The memorial involved touches Basha’s family said he would want, including a Native American blessing and music by the Beatles.
Laughter dominated the memorial, as tales of Basha’s pranks peppered the hour-plus of speeches from longtime friends who reflected on various aspects of Basha’s public life: business, education, politics and charity.
“He had the sense of humor of a Lebanese pixie,” said Pat McMahon, longtime talk-show host, star of “The Wallace and Ladmo Show” and the memorial’s master of ceremonies.
ASU President Michael Crow told of the only time he fell for one of Basha’s pranks: Basha called his office, claiming to be an old woman named Beddie Hasha.
“Beddie had left us $100 million. We pursued the call,” Crow deadpanned, garnering laughter from the audience.
The speakers said Basha’s pranks included posting embarrassing billboards, sending cheap Christmas and Hanukkah gifts to politicians and business leaders in someone else’s name, and numerous joke phone calls.
“He was a man of 10,000 practical jokes but more than 10 million random acts of kindness,” said Art Hamilton, a friend and political associate.
Throughout his life, Basha donated millions of dollars to Arizona schools, churches and non-profits. He and his wife, Nadine, were pioneers for what is now First Things First, a statewide organization that provides health, development and education services to children from birth through age 5.
His family requested that, in lieu of flowers, guests make contributions to local charities.
Several speakers recalled Basha’s 1994 gubernatorial bid, which ended with a clash over his statement that he would support gay marriage. It is widely believed those remarks cost him the governorship.
Herman Chanen, a longtime friend and contractor, drew applause when he called that loss “a sad day for Arizona.”
“No matter where each of you stand on this issue, the important thing is that Eddie risked everything to stand up for his beliefs and his friends,” Chanen said.
Other speakers included attorneys Dan Cracchiolo and Mike Gallagher; Martin Sepulveda, former Chandler City Council member and congressional candidate; Rhian Evans Allvin, CEO of First Things First; and retired Coca-Cola Co. executive and retired Arizona Board of Regents member Don Ulrich.
Like the speakers on stage, seemingly everyone present had a Basha story to tell — usually with a chuckle.
State education Superintendent John Huppenthal, a longtime Chandler neighbor to Basha, remembered the guy next door who would buy his daughters’ Girl Scout cookies. He also said he hopes to meet with Brandon Basha, a grandson who showed interest in picking up where his grandfather left off on education issues.
Hopi artist Cecil Calnimptewa said he was there to honor the man who bought the first kachina he carved. Basha went on to buy 90 more dolls from the artist, adding to his art collection and making a new friend.
Cindy McCain, wife of U.S. Sen. John McCain, said her ties to Basha preceded politics. Her father, who ran a Budweiser distributorship, was good friends with Basha through business circles.
“The nice thing about Eddie is he could always bring you back to the truth,” she said.
Four generations of Basha’s family came on stage to share stories and thank the audience, among them his oldest son, Edward “Trey” Basha III, who was named president and CEO of the company in January. But they left the last word to Basha himself, courtesy of a video interview.
“Eddie Basha: He was a good man but a bad boy. That’s how I want to be remembered,” Basha said in the video, which closed the ceremony. “He gave you a sense you were in a noble profession.” “He was screaming, ‘You fix the ticket! You fix the ticket!’ ” “He used to give me a heck of a time trying to get me to drink wine or beer, knowing I was a good little Mormon boy.” “Eddie told time with the beat of his heart.” “There was one thing Eddie Basha was lousy at: politics. When he ran for governor, he told the truth.” “He was one of the first people in the nation to openly support samesex marriage; in ’94, hardly anyone in the nation was talking about the issue. He was very avant-garde.” “If there is a time-out room in heaven, Eddie is in it.” “He was a fighter for two specific things: fairness, more than anything else, and goodness.”