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William and Pauline Don Carlos were killed instantly
on Monday morning, October 9, 2000, when their plane crashed as they were
attempting to make an emergency landing at Deer Valley Airport in Phoenix,
Arizona. They died an heroic death.
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Returning from a vacation in Mexico, the plane had engine trouble approximately one mile from the runway. His attempt to land in a vacant field failed when the plane struck standing power lines. Eyewitnesses reported that Bill deliberately struggled to steer the plane away from residences and businesses out of concern for the safety of others.
Bill and Pauline lived life to the fullest, but they
will be remembered for the tremendous personal and financial sacrifices
they made on behalf of others. In 1985, they began liquidating their
assets to establish a treatment center for girls in Arizona. This was the
fulfillment of a dream for Pauline, who realized that some of the needs of
adolescent girls could not be addressed by existing programs when she was
a psychologist employed by the Arizona Department of Corrections.
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Today the Mingus Mountain Estate Residential Center, Inc. survives them, located on the edge of the Prescott National Forest, overlooking Prescott Valley, Arizona. In fifteen years, it has grown to become one of the premier treatment centers in the nation. The main campus now consists of an 18 bed Intensive Treatment Unit, a 20 bed dormitory, an 8 bed honors unit, a fully accredited charter high school (Mingus Mountain Academy), and the Elizabeth Cobden Center for Spiritual Growth. MMERCI also has three group homes, allowing an additional 22 girls the opportunity to successfully transition back into a community. MMERCI has served over 2,000 girls from Arizona and throughout the country since 1985. They are just a part of the living legacy of Bill and Pauline's love and compassion for others.
Pauline was an impoverished English immigrant who arrived in Canada with one suitcase and no money as a little girl. Her father, who worked on a Ford assembly line, died when Pauline was young. Pauline worked very hard all her life and graduated from the University of Rochester, Nazareth College, and completed her Ph.D. in Education and Psychology at Arizona State University while raising two boys.
Bill built a large estate planning law practice in
the West Phoenix and Sun City, Arizona areas for more than twenty years
that served the needs of many people. Literally thousands of clients will
remember Bill's patient, loving manner, and his big, easy smile. He had a
special love for animals of all kinds and kept many horses at the girl's
ranch, African Grey parrots, and dogs.
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One of the three dogs, a 150-pound Bloodhound named "Bubba" miraculously survived the airplane crash and is expected to fully recover.
Bill came to the Valley from
Greenfield, Iowa, where he was raised and where he practiced law with his
dad for many years. As a boy he was active in Scouting, becoming an Eagle
Scout, and also raised pure bred hunting dogs. He studied law at Drake
University. He learned to fly in Iowa in the mid-1970's and vigorously
enjoyed all kinds of outdoor pursuits: fishing, scuba diving, skiing,
horse back riding, and camping. In his lifetime he personally planted
thousands of trees that now grow and Iowa and Arizona. He leaves behind
countless friends and associates who miss him terribly.
Bill and Pauline were married for twenty years. Bill is survived by two sons: William W. Don Carlos II, Michael E. Don Carlos, from a marriage to Deanne F. Dorn. Pauline is survived by two sons from a marriage to Arnold F. Bianco, A. David Bianco, and Matthew A. Bianco. Bill is survived by his sister, Dotti Gene Van Werden. Pauline is survived by her mother, Winifred Hughes, and sister, Valerie Purvis.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 14, at The Community Church of Joy.
Special recollections about Bill and Pauline can be shared on this website, by emailing memorial@wdoncarlos.com. Messages received will be posted on this page.
Financial memorials and gifts in lieu of flowers may
be made in the care of MMERCI
and sent to MMERCI,
10451 W. Palmeras Drive, Suite L-105, Sun City, AZ 85373 or at any
Community Bank of Arizona.
Other news coverage and memorial links:
The obituary was front page news on the Arizona Republic's web edition. A reprint of the article can be found here on our web site.
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Copyright ©
1999, 2000 William Don Carlos. All rights reserved
Revised Monday, March 05, 2001 10:58:48 AM