Memorial Service for Art Chapa

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

A memorial service for lobbyist Art Chapa will be held at 10 a.m. Dec. 7 at St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 S. Stone Avenue, in Tucson. Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas will officiate.

The family has established a fund in Chapa's name to increase awareness of H. pylori-induced cancer. Contributions may be sent to the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, 1295 N. Martin Ave., Tucson, 85724.

Chapa, a longtime Pima County lobbyist and former member of the state Board of Regents, died Friday of cancer just days after he was diagnosed. Lobbyist, ex-regent Art Chapa dies at 69:

Attorney Art Chapa, a longtime lobbyist for Pima County and a former member of the state Board of Regents, died Friday, 11 days after being diagnosed with cancer.

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Chapa was well-known in political circles, raising money for Democratic candidates, serving as a staffer for Congressman Morris K. Udall, and serving on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' transition team in 2006. He was the state director of President Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election bid.

Also known for his widespread community service, he left his stamp on the community in other ways as well, largely through his lobbying, which he did at the county level for 20 years.

Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said those who enjoy the county river-park system have Chapa, in part, to thank for helping to secure federal funding for bank stabilization, while he was also key in facilitating the Kino Wetlands restoration project.

Anyone enjoying the athletic facilities at Cherry Field and those roughly 1,500 homeowners or so who can now ditch their flood insurance because of the flood-plain project on the Arroyo Chico can thank Chapa, in part, because of his ability to secure funding.

"He will be missed immensely," Huckelberry said, saying Chapa was always able to pick the middle ground between two opposing sides. "He was a great statesman. He learned a lot from Mo Udall," Huckelberry said.