Richard Polheber, 73, passed away on October 27, 2019. Rich was enlisted in the U.S. Army where he achieved the rank of Captain and was Chief of the Operations Division Air Defense Board while working in research and development of missile systems at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. After leaving the Army, he was a junior high school mathematics teacher for several years and was an adjunct instructor with the College of St. Francis. Rich received a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Loyola University (Chicago) and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in healthcare management from the University of Chicago – Booth School of Business. For the past 45 years Rich’s focus was healthcare and community service. In 1974, he joined Tucson Medical Center. Rich progressed from a department director to various leadership positions including Chief Operating Officer before becoming the Administrator for Tucson Medical Center and Senior Vice-President for Health Partners of Southern Arizona. In these years he held responsibility for all acute, sub-acute, and extended care facilities as well as affiliated relations in Southern Arizona and northern Mexico. Rich was a visionary and under his leadership TMC Hospice was founded. After leaving Health Partners of Southern Arizona, he formed a consulting company and worked for two years with clients both in and outside of Arizona. He served as CEO for Page Hospital and their network from 1997 to 1999. Between 1999 and 2009, he served as CEO for Carondelet Holy Cross Hospital, part of Carondelet Health Network, a member of Ascension Health. In 2010 he served as the interim CEO for the Arizona Association of Community Health Centers and from December 2010 to January 2012 he represented Health Tech by serving as the CEO of Palm Drive Hospital. In January 2013 he took the position of CEO for Benson Hospital. He was a founding member of the Center of Health Management Research, the only management center funded by the National Science Foundation. Rich lectured at the University of Arizona and ASU and served many years as a member of the Advisory Board for the College of Nursing at the University of Arizona. Rich was also involved on regional and national issues of healthcare, having served as the Chairman of the Arizona Hospital Association and Arizona's delegate to the American Hospital Association. Richard is survived by his wife, Judith, six children and eight grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to T.M.C hospice. (Source: ASU Foundation)