

Bill Whiteside, 77, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away due to a cardiac event on Friday, December 13, 2024. Sadly, or appropriately, he passed away at his golf club, while enjoying his passion hobby.
To honor him, a Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, January 8, at 10:00 a.m. at Highlands Church 9050 E Pinnacle Peak Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85255. Light refreshments will be provided; casual attire.
Obituary
Bill was truly one in a million, a leader whose impact went far beyond the workplace. His life was transformed early in his adulthood when he began his relationship with Jesus, a faith that would become the foundation of his character and actions. Colleagues often said he was "the best boss I ever had," a testament to his unique ability to both inspire excellence and nurture genuine connections. His kindness knew no bounds, extending not just to those in the spotlight but to everyone he encountered, especially those who might have felt overlooked by others - a reflection of his deep Christian values.
His dry wit and clever sarcasm brought light to even the most challenging days, while his thoughtful nature ensured everyone felt valued and supported. In meetings, he was known for his punctuality and preparation but also his ability to make every person feel heard. He had an intuitive sense of what needed to be done and how best to accomplish it, always considering both the practical and human elements of any situation. But perhaps his greatest joy came from being "Pop-pop" to his seven grandchildren. He enjoyed attending his grandchildren's events from sports (helping him graduate from "Map Boy" to "Ball Boy") to graduations. He delighted in giving to them and setting them up for a successful future.
The sudden void left by his passing has shaken all who knew him, a reflection of how deeply he touched our lives. His legacy lives on not just in the projects he completed or the standards he set, but in the countless lives he enriched with his warmth, sympathy, and gracious spirit. Bill showed us that true leadership is about more than just achieving goals - it's about lifting others up along the way.
Bill was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend; he is survived by his wife of 26 years, Gina Jones and step son Justin Jones; his daughters Kelly (Joshua Rayman) and Mandy (Ed Garrett) with his first wife, Carol, and his seven grandchildren, Caleb, Elijah, and Ava Rayman, and Maddie, Eddie, Kenzie, and Bear Garrett.
Bill’s history:
Bill was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 21, 1947, the son of the late Loy and Geneva Whiteside. Bill mostly grew up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and was raised with his older brother Howard.
Bill graduated from Glenbard West High School, where he lettered two years in baseball. He then went on to graduate with a degree in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University (which he lovingly called "The Harvard of the Midwest"). He was offered a job at Sperry Flight Systems (now Honeywell Flight Systems) in Phoenix and eagerly jumped at the chance to get out of snow country. His initial job was very intriguing as he was assigned to work on the flight controller team for the (then brand new) Boeing 747.
It was very depressing at the time, but Sperry laid off over 40% of their workforce (less than 2 years after he started) and Bill didn't make the cut. Looking back he would comment how God is in charge as the layoff forced a career change that got him into commercial real estate. His first role was with Del E. Webb Realty and Management Co., where he was an office leasing agent. He worked there for 13 years with various assignments, including moving to Houston, Texas, to handle the remodeling and re-leasing of a high-rise in the downtown area. His final role was senior vice president of leasing and new business development.
In 1984, he was offered a position at Westcor Partners (at the time the Valley's premier ground-up shopping center developer) to help start an office building division. Despite the success of developing three office complexes the investment in retail was significantly more profitable so it was discontinued. This led to another God-controlled event as Westcor promoted him to run Property Management for the whole company. Ultimately Bill was rewarded by becoming a partner in the firm. This lasted until 2002, when they sold the company to Macerich. Bill was offered a position to stay, which he did until he retired in 2014.
Bill enjoyed many other activities as he coached t-ball, taught five-year-olds Sunday school for 11 years, held several local and national positions with the Institute of Real Estate Management, was president of the Scottsdale YMCA, president of the local chapter of the Building Owners and Management Association; and served on the Board of Bethany Bible Church. He also served six years in the Army National Guard.
Golf was his favorite hobby, and he and Gina joined Pinnacle Peak Country Club (PPCC) in 2003. He served on several committees at PPCC and was its President in 2016. His legacy (along with the General Manager Doc Belitz) was planning and implementing a complete remodel of the Clubhouse.
Bill adopted ASU's football program and became a season ticket holder starting in 1982. He was also an original season ticket holder for the Fiesta Bowl that began in 1971.
He regularly thanked God (even when he found a great parking spot at the mall) for such a special life and family.
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Memory wall
We knew that he would always be in our corner.
He celebrated with us when times were great and was there for us when they were not.
We shared many laughs and many tears as a group throughout the years.
He was our superhero and his superpower was that he made each and every one of us believe that we were his favorite!
He was ours.

My dear Friend, Mentor and first Boss, I will truly miss you, 5-decades of Friendship!
We met in Houston; Bill was 24 and I was 22 fresh out of college, knowing nothing about real estate. I had just flown in from Phoenix with the assignment to lease a 230,000 square foot office building; Bill’s assignment, to teach me how to lease office space. We each succeeded and became lifelong friends through the process. He recently said to me, “can you believe that Del Webb actually trusted us with that assignment”. Bill set me on the path for a 50-year career in real estate.
We experienced life together and had much in common except Golf. Bill was there as I courted my Bride; and was in our wedding. We were there when each of our daughters were born, Kelly and Mandy, Bill’s Pride and Joy. In the late 1970’s we both accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. I remember how much joy you had when you married Gina, your Bride for Life.
As we moved into different career paths, God continued to build our relationship through both the good and challenging times. We kept in contact through lunches, dinners, birthday celebrations, Daughters Weddings, ASU games & tailgates, staycations and couple trips. Our friendship extended well into our marriages.
Conversations were centered around how we were doing, encouragement, a little business, but mainly family talk. We would share life stories as the girls grew up, went on to college, married and gave us both wonderful grandchildren. I know Bill’s 7 grandchildren, because of the stories and pictures, continually shared.
Bill, a loving, committed Husband, Dad, Grandpa, & Friend, you’ll always be appreciated & remembered!

years is a treasure. From the early days in Houston where Bill was Bobs boss at Del Webb, to celebrating 40+ years of ASU football games, tailgating, and the University club. Memories are too many to mention but breakfasts, dinners, celebrating everyone’s birthdays every year, staycations, going to the botanical Gardens, plays, concerts and traveling to Boulder are just a few. Our hearts are broken with how we’ll miss you Bill. One memory brings a giggle— playing cards in our bathrobes on staycations— who does that???? Best friends that’s who!!!!
We lift Gina & family up in prayer for
the Lords comfort and healing We know we will see you again rejoicing in heaven for all eternity!!!
With love, Diane Kawa


I cannot imagine the great pain and the hole in your heart, Gina - having lost such a wonderful guy. My heart aches for you.
Godspeed
Ken Janacek
Right away Bill and I became friends, sharing many of the same interests, primarily sports. For example, throughout our time at Glenbard West HS in Glen Ellyn we played basketball together, whether in pickup games in the gym, on intramural teams, or on the Methodist team in a church league. Bill had had a knack for getting open and had a soft touch on his jump shots, which he’d usually sink from the corner in what is now three point range. He was a big factor in winning the league championship a couple of times.
But baseball was our best sport and main interest. A lefty, Bill was a slick fielding first baseman with good hands and quick feet. At the plate he had a lefty’s classic smooth swing. Ken Janacek, our hard-hitting, strong arm third baseman and classmate completed this trio of friends. Throughout high school we played ball together not just for Glenbard, but all summer as well in different leagues, even barnstorming around the region and in other Midwestern states. When we weren’t playing ball we were talking about, occasionally heading to Wrigley Field to watch the Cubs. There is a lot of down time in baseball, from preseason workouts, through the long season, traveling or just hanging out our friendships strengthened.
After graduating from Glenbard Bill and Ken headed to Bradley U in Peoria, IL. I left for school in Baltimore where I have lived ever since. Ken stayed in Illinois, and as everyone knows, Bill was tired of the snow and cold so after Bradley moved to Arizona, setting up an Arizona-Illinois-Maryland geographic split.
As it happened we allowed that geography, marriage and raising our families, careers, i.e. life generally to get in the way of our friendship until (too) many years later when a high school reunion afforded us the chance to reconnect and also meet Gina. I lack the words to express how meaningful it has been to reestablish our friendship and renew my connection to Bill and Ken, but it has been valuable and important to me to do so.
The Bill Whiteside I’ve known for a long time was a true friend. Not just a good athlete with whom I shared time and similar interests, but a good, caring, and sober person, a man of integrity who worked hard and challenged himself and those around him to do better. He was a good guy, fun to be with, someone worth listening to and one who enriched the lives of us blessed to know him. Although we followed different paths and spent so much time apart I have always respected him.
My heart goes out to Gina, his family and network of friends. I am very sorry for your/our loss. Bill will certainly be missed but never forgotten. I will remember him always as my friend and am thankful for the times we shared and for the good memories I will carry with me forever.
Howard & Barbara

Service
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