Chris Sheafe spent nearly 15 years helping turn Rio Nuevo from what its chairman called a "holy mess" into one of Tucson's most consequential economic development engines. He died April 8 in a plane crash at Marana Regional Airport, along with his wife, Jacque.

Before joining Rio Nuevo, Sheafe had already spent decades shaping Tucson's built environment.

A University of Washington and Arizona State University graduate who got his start in Seattle commercial development, he moved to Arizona in 1970 and joined Estes Homes in 1976, becoming a partner in 1981. He worked on many notable projects, including the Ventana Hotel, Ventana Country Club and surrounding residential community in northeast Tucson.

Beyond real estate, Sheafe served as the 2010 chairman of the Tucson International Airport Authority and was active on the Pima County Bond Committee, the Southern Arizona Homebuilders Association and the board of TREO, among other civic roles.

Sheafe was appointed to Rio Nuevo's board in 2012, working closely with his colleague and friend Fletcher McCusker, who chairs the organization. Rio Nuevo is a Tax Increment Finance District funded by a portion of state sales tax dollars and accountable to the Arizona State Legislature.

McCusker called Rio Nuevo at the time a "holy mess," saying he and other board members were given just six months to stabilize the organization before the state would shut it down.

McCusker recalls feeling grateful to have someone as seasoned as Sheafe by his side, saying his experience in finance, real estate and private partnerships made him the perfect candidate to become Rio Nuevo's treasurer.

Sheafe became deeply involved with everything about the organization, reviewing every check, every budget draft and every decision that involved money.

"We always consulted Chris; he knew where literally every penny went. His talent is irreplaceable," McCusker said.

Not only did Rio Nuevo survive that first six months, the board was recently granted a 10-year extension. McCusker said this is due in large part to how financially astute the board has become, which he attributes mostly to Sheafe.

Over the years, the board developed a formula for economic development that often began with Sheafe making the first motion to act on a project.

"Chris lived for the moment to get business done," McCusker said. "I'm not sure who's going to make a motion in our next meeting."

Sheafe's dry wit, McCusker said, kept Rio Nuevo's meetings from feeling like a grind.

"We take the job seriously. We manage the crises seriously. We have great respect for one another, but it doesn't bear down on us," McCusker said. "We just have too much fun with what we do."

McCusker called Sheafe the kindest person, "a rare breed of cool, calm, and collected, but also intelligent and experienced."

McCusker said Sheafe was proud of everything the board accomplished downtown, but never needed to be in the spotlight for it, a reflection, McCusker said, of his humility.

There have been conversations in the weeks since Sheafe's passing about the best way to honor his legacy, but the board said it will defer to his family's wishes and hold off on planning any memorials.

Rio Nuevo is still in a state of shock. Sheafe was in the middle of drafting the organization's budget for the upcoming fiscal year, and McCusker is now working with Arizona Senate President Warren Peterson to find someone with a comparable skillset, though he acknowledged those are big shoes to fill.

"The intuitive way to get business done belongs only to Mr. Chris Sheafe," McCusker said. "His leadership will be sorely missed."

Ahva Ghazanfari is a University of Arizona student and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at ahvanghazanfari@arizona.edu.

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