Richard H. (Dick) Whitney, 81, died March 23, 2019. He attended Claremont Men's College and held B. S., M.B.A. and law degrees from the University of Arizona. Dick was an attorney with Gust Rosenfeld for more than 55 years, spending his entire distinguished career there. He joined the firm in 1963, having started as an office boy in 1961. His law practice was estate planning, probate and trust administration. He is a member of the State Bar of Arizona and the American Bar Association. He served on Gust Rosenfeld's Executive Committee and was a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel's membership selection committee, nominating committee; he served as a regent and chairman for Arizona. Whitney was included in the Trust and Estates category of The Best Lawyers of America ®, recognized in AZ Business Leaders for Estate Planning in 2016, the Trusts and Estates category of The Best Lawyers in America ® (1983-2019) and Southwest Super Lawyers ® for Estate Planning & Probate (2007-2015). He was AV® Preeminent ™ rated by Martindale-Hubble ® representing the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards. Countless arts and civic organizations in Arizona benefitted from Dick's leadership, energy, and commitment to volunteerism. He was the founding chairman of the ASU Art Museum Advisory Board, and a former board member of the Arizona Theater Company, Heard Museum, and the Museum of Northern Arizona. He also served as chairman of the University of Arizona Steele Children's Research Center, president of the Friendly House, and a board member of the Florence Crittenton Services of Arizona. Most currently he served as President of the Phoenix Chamber Music Society Board (PCMS) of Directors. Four years ago he established the Whitney Scholarship program for music students from seven Title 1 Phoenix schools. He was also instrumental in organizing and overseeing the Composer in Residence program for PCMS and helped the organization secure its own concert grand piano. To honor his grandparents, in 2016 Dick and Linda donated a Corten steel sculpture to the City of Glendale Main Library. The seven foot by three foot piece was created by Arizona artist Michael Anderson. After meeting Lewis Ruskin, one of the foremost art leaders in Phoenix during the early 1960s, Dick was asked to craft the enabling legislation that established the Arizona Commission on the Arts and Humanities as a state agency. The legislation was signed into law on March 13, 1967, by then-Governor Jack Williams. Later, Governor Bruce Babbitt appointed Whitney to serve as the Arts Commission's third chairman. In 2017, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Commission, Dick and Linda Whitney were honored with the Shelley Award for their efforts on behalf of arts and culture. In 1977, through his legal work at Gust Rosenfeld representing the Valley National Bank, Dick wrote the white paper that made the case and laid out the strategy to start a community foundation for Arizona. His idea led to five banks joining together to fund the foundation for three years, covering all administration costs, which allowed the foundation to operate and not compete with other nonprofits for support. In addition to founding the Arizona Community Foundation, he served five years as its chairman. Dick Whitney is survived by his wife, Linda, two daughters, two grandchildren and a brother. A memorial celebration will be held at the Phoenix Country club on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 2 p.m. Contributions may be made to the Arizona Community Foundation and the Phoenix Chamber Music Society. (Source: AZ Republic)