Meet & Greet at BeDillon's in Casa Grande for Mark Kelly on October 19, 2022

     CASA GRANDE — Albert Arthur "Al" Gugenberger, 72, a retired Air Force officer and former Casa Grande city councilman, died on Sept. 28, 2021, at the U.S. Veterans Affairs hospice in Tucson. 

     Mr. Gugenberger was born on Feb. 11, 1949, in Gloversville, New York, a son of Elwin and Shirley Gugenberger. He graduated from Gloversville High School in 1967 and Granite State College in New Hampshire with a Bachelor of General Studies degree in 1972, then the University of Northern Colorado with a Master of Science in 1981. In 1967 he joined the Air Force and later became a commissioned officer, retiring in 1988 as a captain. During his service he lived in New York, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Wyoming, Montana and Maine and spent a year each in Vietnam and South Korea. As a non-commissioned officer he was designated as Administrative Airman of the Year of the 15th Air Force.

     He later continued his career in health care administration for another 30 years, serving as CEO of La Pine Community Health Care in La Pine, Oregon, Northeastern Rural Health Clinics in Susanville, California, Sun Life Family Health Center in Casa Grande and Lake Powell Medical Center in Page. He was a Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives and served as president of the Arizona Association of Community Health Centers from 2000 to 2002. He also was a member of Arizona Association of Community Health Centers Board of Directors, president of Community Health Centers Collaborative Ventures and a board member for 12 years.

     Community service was very important to him, and he was a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary and served on the club board in Casa Grande. He also served several years on the Casa Grande City Council including as mayor pro tempore as well as being on the Planning and Zoning Commission. He served on the Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce board and was a finalist for the Arizona Business Journal's Healthcare Hero award. Most mornings before work he indulged his passion for long distance cycling, covering 25 to 30 miles and sometimes 100 on a weekend. He and his wife Cynthia enjoyed traveling in Central America, Canada and Europe. 

     Al will be remembered for his love of family, his love of animals, and his service to his community and country. He had a wonderful sense of humor, and he delighted in the company of friends, colleagues, and co-workers.

     Survivors include his wife, Cynthia; a daughter, Dyan Goulooze; and three sisters, Susan Tagliatela, Patricia Capparello and Nancy Insogna.

     Service later in Gloversville.

     Donations may be made to Alzheimer's research and multiple sclerosis charities.

     J. Warren Funeral Services is in charge of arrangements.

     CASA GRANDE — David Snider, a longtime public official and civic leader, died early Friday, January 22, after emergency surgery for a heart ailment.

     According to his partner, Merrilyn Ridgeway, Snider died from an aortic dissection after surgery on Friday at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa.

Snider was serving as president of the Casa Grande Elementary School District’s Governing Board and also as a commissioner for the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission.

     Snider was first elected to the Pinal County Board of Supervisors in November 2004 and served two terms, leaving office at the end of 2012. Prior to his election, Snider worked for the city of Casa Grande for 26 years as library director as well as being interim and acting city manager on occasion. He was an elected member of the Casa Grande Elementary School District Governing Board from 1993 until 2004 and served as its president for seven of those years, and was again elected to the board in November 2014.

     Snider also was a member of the Latino Familia Initiative since 2004 and served as a board member for LFI. He also served as a member and vice chair of the state Groundwater Users Advisory Council for the Pinal Active Management Area.

He also chaired the Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority and served as secretary on the Board of Directors of Against Abuse Inc. He was a member of the Arizona Town Hall Research Committee and the Local Drought Impact Group (drought preparedness) for Pinal County.

     He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from American University of Beirut (Lebanon) and earned his Master of Science in library science degree from Wayne State University.

     Snider accepted the city’s library director position in 1977 and began a 26-year career managing the department in Casa Grande.

     According to a 2016 Casa Grande Dispatch article, Snider said that his proudest achievement was transferring the main library branch to its present location on Drylake Street.

     “Mr. Snider served our CGESD community for over 20 years as a Board member during 2 separate stints. He was a strong supporter of quality education, and was an advocate for teachers and support-staff alike. Over the course of his term on the Board, he served as President for 8 years,” Superintendent JoEtta Gonzales shared.

     “David Snider was a dear friend to so many throughout our area. He had an uncanny ability to connect, and an endless capacity for love,” Gonzales said. “As a former librarian, he shared his passion for literature, vocabulary, and the arts with many of us.”

     According to a statement from Gonzales, his impact will be felt for generations to come.

     “These are tough times for many. In the days ahead, let us be strengthened by kindness and laughter,” Gonzales said. “David Snider would have wanted it that way.

     According to the 2016 article, Snider said he always felt the call of serving the public sector.

     “David Snider was a friend, a community leader and most of all a true community servant,” Mayor Craig McFarland said. “I am personally shocked and saddened to hear of his passing, he will be deeply missed!”

     “David served the organization as the Library Director for several decades. He wore additional hats during his tenure, with the most prominent being an authority on water resource issues,” City Manager Larry Rains said.

     “David was always a strong advocate for our City and Community,” Rains said. “We will all mourn the loss of a very community minded friend, colleague and leader.”