A.J. "Jack" Pfister died suddenly on Monday, July 20, 2009, at the age of 75. A fourth-generation Arizonan, Jack was born in Prescott on October 3, 1933. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Patricia, a daughter, a son, and his brother, along with many cousins and extended family. He was a devoted father, a loving brother and dedicated his life to improving education and encouraging community service. Jack graduated from the University of Arizona in 1955, married in 1956, and then graduated from the University of Arizona Law School in 1959. He became a partner with the law firm of Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, where he remained until 1969. He joined SRP in 1970 and became general manager in 1976 until he retired in 1991. While at SRP, Jack advocated participatory management, initiated a special series to keep executives focused on community matters, and maintained high levels of integrity and good customer service. Among many achievements, he worked with Governor Bruce Babbitt to negotiate the state's first groundwater management act. Jack contributed his time generously to charitable, government, and community activities. He served on the transition teams for both incoming Governor Jane Hull and incoming Mayor Phil Gordon. President Jimmy Carter tapped him for a national steering committee to analyze the impacts from the Three Mile Island accident. He also served as a board member and on the staff of the Center for the Future of Arizona. Among many honors he received was the Human Relations Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews in 1992. In commending the award, Dr. Lattie F. Coor, then-president of Arizona State University, stated, "Jack Pfister combines an uncommon ability at problem solving with a boundless commitment to the well-being of this community and this state. By listening carefully to all who are around him, he finds the common core of decency by which a society advances itself and helps us all to make this a better place in which to live."