John Dougherty
Thursday, June 26th, 2008Chamber loses one of its own
Ex-lobbyist John Dougherty, 40, loses battle with melanoma
Excerpts © Arizona Daily Star
John Dougherty, the former vice president for governmental affairs at the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, died June 24 after a battle with melanoma. He was 40.
Dougherty was receiving hospice care while staying at his parents’ Phoenix home at the time of his passing.
He took a leave of absence from his Chamber of Commerce position last year after he was diagnosed with the malignant form of skin cancer.
He was still living in Tucson and receiving treatment at University Medical Center when his condition worsened a week before his death.
Dougherty was graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree in English and the intent to become a journalist. A keen interest in politics took his career in a different direction.
He worked for current presumptive presidential nominee John McCain and former U.S. Rep. John J. Rhodes III, in Washington, D.C. When Rhodes lost his bid for re-election, Dougherty remained in the nation’s capital, working as a government-affairs specialist for trade organizations.
After a decade, Dougherty returned to Arizona, where his political savvy made him the perfect fit as a lobbyist for the Tucson chamber.
He worked there for five years until his diagnosis.
“He was an outstanding employee. Very, very politically astute, understood the political process better than anyone I know,” chamber President Jack Camper said.
“He was a very intelligent individual with an excellent knowledge of the issues,” said Bonnie Allin, president and CEO of the Tucson Airport Authority and current chair of the Chamber board of directors. “He was an outstanding political strategist who worked tirelessly to represent the interests of the Chamber members and our community. Our deepest sympathy goes out to John’s family and his Chamber family.”
Arizona State Rep. Jonathan Paton met Dougherty six years ago.
“He was one of my best friends,” Paton said. “He was a good guy, a fun-loving guy. You couldn’t help but like him.
“He helped me out with my campaign. I wouldn’t have been elected without him. We’re both addicted to politics. He was a lot of fun to strategize with,” Paton said.
Besides the political side, Dougherty also had a side that was open and personable.
“The thing I remember most dearly was the joyous expression on John’s face as he protectively carried his cat, Charles Barkley, from office to office to show off his best friend to us in the Chamber,” said Paula Stuht, Chamber vice president of business development. “It was a soft side of a man I had, previous to that day, thought of as a true political junkie, almost devoid of emotion. I never thought of John the same way again.”
“John was a very genuine person, quite the character and very easy to have a conversation with,” said Linda O’Brine, an information specialist at the Chamber. “(What was) especially fun was listening to his weekend adventures and his stories about Charles, his cat and best buddy.”
Dougherty is survived by his parents, Bernard and Carol, and his younger brother, Jim.
A service was scheduled for June 30 in Phoenix at the Hansen Chapel, 8314 N. Seventh St. The family is planning an informal memorial for friends and colleagues in Tucson at a later date.
The family suggests donations be made in Dougherty’s name to the Arizona Cancer Center, 3838 N. Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85719, or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014.
