CBS5
Eddie Basha Jr., chairman of the Bashas’ Family of Stores, has died at age 75.
The Arizona Democratic Party confirmed he died at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. A cause of death wasn’t immediately released.
Basha was a key advocate of education, quality healthcare, the arts and feeding the hungry.
Born in Chandler, Basha is the great-grandson of settlers who came to America in 1884.
His grandparents were Arizona pioneers who opened a general store in the Arizona community of Ray in 1910, two years before statehood.
The Bashas’ Family of Stores was founded in 1932 by brothers Ike and Eddie Basha Sr.
The scope of the company now includes four distinct formats: Bashas’, Bashas’ Diné, AJ’s Fine Foods and Food City.
The company has more than 130 stores serving every county in Arizona, as well as Needles, CA, and Crownpoint, NM.
It is the only family-owned supermarket chain in Arizona and the seventh-largest employer in the state.
Statement by RLG Founder and President Jordan Rose: Eddie is one of a kind and an Arizona icon. His love of Arizona and leadership in education, business and politics sets the highest example for all of us. Eddie always made you laugh and he seemed so engaged in every conversation no matter what the topic. We will all deeply miss Eddie and try to emulate his commitment to community service. Our prayers are with the great Basha family.
News Release
Phoenix Indian Center mourns the loss of one of Arizona’s staunchest advocates for education and American Indians, Eddie Basha Jr. His legacy in Indian Country cannot be underestimated. His thirty-year commitment to Arizona’s Native Nations began when he opened the first Bashas’ Dine Market on the Navajo Reservation in 1981 and by the end of 2012 there were 10 stores on Tribal lands, 7 of them on Navajo.
Patricia Hibbeler, CEO of the Phoenix Indian Center stated “We are greatly saddened by this loss and send our condolences to Eddie’s family. His legacy of service to all Arizonans sets a precedent that we all can aspire to.” Eddie Basha Jr. once said that two of his proudest achievements were getting grades K-3 education funding in Arizona and his great relationship with the Tribes and support of his wife Nadine, focusing on early childhood education.
Basha’s legacy is also recognized though his support of American Indian artists. He was frequently seen at art shows in the Southwest where his efforts are reflected in his family collection. As a great philanthropist, Basha recognized early on that his presence in American Indian community was larger than just the commercial venture, but an opportunity to support American Indian communities through employment, scholarships and collection of art.
Our condolences go out to the entire Basha family.
