Rob Ward 1940-2026

 It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Rob Ward, husband of longtime Historical League member Mary Ward.

Mary served as Historical League president from 1990-1991. The Arizona Historymakers program was co-founded by Mary and she chaired the 2nd Historymakers Gala in 1993. Mary and Rob were generous supporters of both the Historical League and the Arizona Historical Society.

Posted online on May 15, 2026

Published in The Arizona Republic

It is with deep sadness that we share that Rob Ward passed away on Saturday, May 9th, surrounded by his family. Rob was born in Whittier, California, on September 20, 1940 to Barbara Burton and Marcum Ward. Rob is survived by his wife, Mary Ward; their three children: Brian Ward (Nelly); Mark Ward (Melinda); and Heidi Lopez (Manny); nine grandchildren: Tony, Scott, Sophia, Niko, Alex, Izzy, Danica, Leo, and Bear; five great-grandchildren: Bernice (Beemer), Louise (LouLou), Adam, Emmitt, and BB; a huge extended family; and many, many friends. Growing up in Whittier, Rob excelled in sports and carried this passion throughout his life through baseball, pickup basketball at the YMCA, coaching his children’s teams, taking ski vacations with friends and family, and being a longtime season ticket holder for the Suns, Diamondbacks and Cardinals. Rob delighted in taking each of his 9 grandchildren, while in their early teens, on a trip to New York. He would take them to a building at 250 Park Avenue, have their picture taken, take them to lunch and explain the significance of that address. When he graduated from high school, he had planned on going to a junior college close to home until his father brought home a scholarship application from the parent company that employed his dad who repaired pumps in the oil fields. 250 Park Avenue was the address of that company that gave him a scholarship to go to any school of his choice and paid full tuition, room and board, transportation and books. He would then say, that was a pivotal event in his life, which lead him to go on to Cal Berkeley where he met the love of his life, Mary Parkhill Nock (married 62 years) and eventually launched his career in real estate. He would emphasize that none of them would be here if that company hadn’t given him that scholarship. Rob was known by all as a family man and ambassador of fun. He and Mary hosted many fun parties and treated family and friends to excursions on their yacht, the MV Laura, throughout Mexico and Southern California. Sharing a passion for travel, Rob and Mary travelled to more than ninety countries on all seven continents. Rob started his career at Coldwell Banker in Oakland in 1964 and in 1967 transferred to the Phoenix office. The move put Rob at ground zero for the amazing real estate bonanza in Arizona. In 1974 he joined regional mall developer Westcor as a partner under the tutelage of Rusty Lyon, its CEO and founder. Over the next three decades, Westcor became one of the most successful real estate development firms in the southwest. Among their landmark projects are Scottsdale Fashion Square, Arrowhead Town Center, and Chandler Fashion Center, among others. Upon Rusty's retirement in 1994, Rob became CEO of Westcor and charted their path to a successful sale of the company to regional mall giant, Macerich, in 2002. In Rob's business dealing he always chose to invest in people rather than projects, valuing relationships and fostering many across the industry. Reflecting Rob’s accomplishments and his reputation for integrity and leadership, he was elected Chairman of the International Council of Shopping Centers in 2001-2002, and spent many years guiding the organization as a lifetime Trustee. Additionally, he was involved with Greater Phoenix Leadership, GPEC, the Board of Directors at Paradise Valley Country Club, Arizona Bank, Five Star Insurance Company, and served as a trustee at the University of California, Berkeley. With his love of sports he was also a longtime member of the Phoenix Thunderbirds. He continued on as a self described "deal junky," and remained very active in mentoring and investing with others in the Real Estate Industry across all market classes. Above all, Rob made friends wherever he went and will be remembered for his warmth, integrity, generosity and bigger-than-life personality. The family will hold a private celebration of life for Rob. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Keys to Change.

Save the Date Juneteenth on Sunday, June 14

 New Location. Same great experience. The Historical League is a proud sponsor!

Lessons in Social Media posting from Emily Hahn

 Forever grateful to AHS Education Curator and Team Member Emily Hahn who has taught me (a lowly volunteer for the Historical League) so much about the “ins and outs” of posting on Social Media.  

THANKS SO MUCH for sharing your expertise and taking time to educate me!

Emily Hahn and Ruth McLeod

National History Day AZ students ready for button trading at Nationals in College Park, MD

 Button trading will be happening at National History Day in College Park at University of Maryland. June 14-18. It's a fun activity encouraging students to meet other participants from around the USA and around the world. 56 buttons in the pack. Enough for all 50 states, U.S. territories, and international schools.

The topic "Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History" is found on t-shirts, hoodies, hats, buttons.

Prior to attending, students need to complete all medical and media release forms, submit project documents, and upload links for their project to be considered for Smithsonian showcases. Let the fun begin!!

Gene Rose Velasco, National History Day teacher at Dishchii’bikoh Community School

  Gene Rose Velasco is a dedicated educator, researcher, and author with a deep passion for the humanities and social sciences. Originally from La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, Philippines, she has built a distinguished career in teaching, research, and academic writing spanning over fifteen years, with a strong focus on social studies education.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education majoring in Social Studies from the University of St. La Salle, where she also served as a part-time instructor. She went on to complete her Master of Arts in Education specializing in Social Studies and recently earned her Master of Arts in Special Education, further strengthening her commitment to inclusive and responsive teaching. In addition, she has completed the academic requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies, reflecting her dedication to continuous learning and scholarly growth.

Throughout her career, Gene Rose has served as a Master Teacher in Senior High School, a college instructor, and a social studies educator across diverse educational settings. Her teaching journey includes meaningful work in indigenous schools in New Mexico and her current role at Dishchii’bikoh Community School, where she teaches middle school students with compassion, cultural sensitivity, and a deep commitment to student development.

She is actively involved in National History Day (NHD)–sponsored research initiatives, guiding students in exploring the stories of war veterans, with a special emphasis on Indigenous heroes. Most recently, she successfully led her students to win at the Regional National History Day competition, earning them the opportunity to advance and compete at the state level.

As a mother of four, Gene Rose brings warmth, empathy, and understanding into her classroom. Her nurturing approach inspires students to see education not only as a path to personal success but also as a way to honor their heritage, history, and cultural identity.

Her academic contributions include presenting research at national and international conferences and publishing in respected platforms such as the University of St. La Salle College of Education Journal and the Philippine Sociological Society Annual National Conference.

Beyond academia, she is passionate about theater, public speaking, and research. As an author, her work reflects a profound appreciation for culture, history, and human development, aiming to educate and inspire through narratives that celebrate identity, resilience, and lifelong learning.

Virtual Programs - A Black Army Saturday, May 16 at 10 am and Route 66 Wednesday, May 20 at noon

 Virtual Programming from AHS. Looking forward to it!  Details at https://arizonahistoricalsociety.org/#

Surviving WWII Camp Papago POW Huts to be restored and displayed at AZHC

 More details on WWII POW hut restoration fundraiser in the QR code. Be a part of the restoration and preservation of those surviving WWII Camp Papago POW Huts, and their stewardship at the Arizona Heritage Center at Papago Park.