Scenic Drive Loses a Good Friend!

Don Schoenau died Sunday, August 22nd. 

Early the next morning I was driving east on Jomax Road toward Pima Road. I was heading for work but I was thinking about Don.  Looming ahead was Pinnacle Peak. And for a split-second I imagined Don perched on top of Pinnacle Peak, smiling and waiving. As I drove down Pima Road, I thought about what I had imagined and how that brief image captured what I liked the most about Don.

He was almost always smiling just as he is in the picture above. He always seemed to be planning a family gathering, a party or an event that others would enjoy. You could not help but smile when you were with Don. He was a very positive person.

The Don I imagined on Pinnacle Peak was waiving. Don was not only friendly but he was one of the most energetic people that I have met. He seemed to always be in motion. Like his smile, his energy and enthusiasm could light up your day, and also lead the way.

It also seemed fitting that I imagined Don on Pinnacle Peak, watching over the area. He always did. He worked tirelessly to protect the desert and the area that he loved and called home. The best part is that it was not work for Don. He was doing was he enjoyed doing.

Don was a driving force in the Greater Pinnacle Peak Home Owners Association (GPPHA) for years. He got involved in the local issues and he contributed to their solutions. For years, he organized litter pickup efforts along Pinnacle Peak Road. He worked tirelessly for The Peek at the Peak, selling ads, writing articles, serving as editor-in-chief.  And he organized social events and battled the ever-evil developers. It is only fitting that Don was serving as president of  GPPHA when he died. He earned that honor and so much more! 

Don was a real friend of the Scenic Drive and this web site. He enjoyed writing articles bout the history of this area. We are fortunate to be able to enjoy what he enjoyed because he gave the articles to us so they could be shared with you [Read More]. The historical articles, which also appeared in The Peak at the Peak, are Don's gift to future generations.

I'll never forget the day he stopped by my house with two large black binders filled with copies of The Black Mountain News dating back to the early 60s.  Don had been doing research in Cave Creek for one of his articles and had come across the rare papers. He was excited. He was smiling. The old papers had a wealth of historical information about the early days of the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive. [Read More]  He knew that I would want to review the information and he went out his way to bring it to me.  Don was always thinking of others. 

And Don supported the Scenic Drive in many other ways. He promoted it. He sold tickets to the Cookout at the Ranch. He brought friends. He orchestrated a large GPPHA donation to the Scenic Drive. Don was a longstanding Friend of the Scenic Drive. And, I know he helped other volunteer preservation groups with just as much enthusiasm as he helped Friends.

Don was a friend and he had many, many friends who will not forget him. Ginger will not be the only person who misses Don.

My view of Pinnacle Peak is never going to be the same. From now on, I'm going to think about Don perched up there, smiling and waiving. Watching over the land and home he loved so much!

Thank you, Don! Rest in peace.