Tony Nelssen, Cover, 2010 July-August Issue of The Peak
By Les Conklin
With this issue, as The Peak officially kicks off its 2015 Summer Fun Tony Nelssen What’s Worth Preserving Photography Contest and the 2015 Summer Fun Write Stuff Contest. It occurred to me that many of our readers might not know who Tony Nelssen was and why the photo contest is named after him. It seems particularly appropriate to remember his tireless and often successful efforts to preserve the residential/rural/western character of our area, including Scottsdale’s Scenic Drive, at a time when the things Tony fought for are being threatened by the state’s push for more commercial development into the Desert Foothills area.
Tony died on May 26, 2010. As a tribute to Tony, the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association – Friends of the Scenic Drive dedicated the July issue of the magazine to his memory and The Peak re-named its annual photography contest in his honor. About a year later, the City of Scottsdale named the equestrian center at WestWorld after Tony. The July-August 2010 issue of The Peak featured Tony’s picture on the cover and tributes from Tony’s friends and colleagues. Here they are as they were published in 2010. We apologize for the length of this article, but Tony cast a long shadow that touched many people.
Excerpt from “Sneak Peeks,” A Peek at the Peak Magazine, July-August 2010 Issue
Jean Anderson
Equestrian
Tony designed this cover of the December, 2006 Peak magazine. The photograph featured on the cover was taken by Frank Biondo and was the winner of The Peak’s Summer Fun photography contest, which was later named after Tony.
I first met Tony a long time ago in Scottsdale while attending a fund raiser for WestWorld! Of course, as short as I am, he really looked like any other “Belt Buckle.” I am five feet (maybe under, a little). He had an air about him that would make people stop and listen. I appreciated his support for all equines (he being a mule man and I being a horsy woman), for trails, for open spaces and the preserves. I did not always agree with him, but I appreciated his views and supported many ideas he had.
I rode with him when the Windgate Trail was first finished. There were about 22 of us that rode that trail, and what fun we had. I remember Peaches, the mule, got kind of tired, and had to stop several times. Mariah, my little quarter horse, and I stayed back with him. I was very glad when Tony announced his first time at running for the Scottsdale City Council. I will miss him, but know he will be riding trails in heaven.
Michelle Anderson
Board of Directors, GPPA, Equestrian, “Dog Daze” Columnist, A Peek at the Peak magazine
Tony Nelssen is one person that I’ll never forget. Large in stature, he had a commanding presence. When he was wearing his cowboy hat and duster coat, he was more than John Wayne on steroids. Certainly not someone to mess with! He was very straightforward, a “cut the crap” kind of guy.
Quickly after the pleasant introductions, you quickly saw right to the heart of the man. His love of family, his delight in his mules, and his passion for desert preservation were all subjects that would ignite further discussion. Our conversations usually centered on buckskin mules (a bit rare I might add), how proud he was of his children, Marg’s immense artistic talents, or great photography. Photography was one way Tony captivated the beauty of the Sonoran desert, to stand as a witness to the importance of its preservation.
We will miss you, friend. You have left HUGE boots to fill, not to be done so easily. You had a special way about you. Go in peace.
Horst Berkner
Tony Nelssen played was a driving force in the creation of the Desert Foothillls Overlay and Desert Foothills Character Plan.
Board Member, GPPA, Volunteer, Friends of the Scenic Drive
After I moved to north Scottsdale from Connecticut in 1995, I realized what a wonderful opportunity we had to preserve the Sonoran Desert. I became involved with FOSD, picking up litter on North Scottsdale Road. That is how I met Tony Nelssen, an ardent supporter and member of the group.
Friends maintains a small park on the east side of Scottsdale Road, just south of Jomax Road. This site was in need of some enhancement. We needed to plant trees and saguaro to enhance the educational exhibits at the site. Tony located some trees and saguaro that were being moved from a construction site and had them transplanted to our site. However, there was no watering system for the newly planted vegetation.
Problem solved, Tony volunteered his time and watering trailer and watered the plants biweekly until they became established. Tony always made himself available to lend a helping hand. He never faltered at being a proponent of maintaining our environment with his words and actions. Many other enhancements along the Scenic Drive were initiated and supported by Tony, such as screening power boxes with metal art and arranging split rail fences on some intersections to give them a rustic look. I’ll miss his personal support and actions in maintaining northern Scottsdale Road as a Sonoran Desert showcase.
Jane Rau, Co-Founder, McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Past President, GPPA, Volunteer, Friends of the Scenic Drive
Tony was my kindred spirit in his enthusiasm, determination, and tenacity for preserving our precious Sonoran Desert. We worked together on so many things, including the protection of dark skies, burying power lines along the Scenic Drive, the protection of native plants, and the Great Sonoran. It took us 17 years to create and obtain approval of the Desert Foothills Overlay. Tony loved life and it’s so sad that he didn’t get to enjoy more of it. We’ll miss him.
Lisa Borowsky
Vice Mayor, City of Scottsdale
Councilman Tony Nelssen embodied and exemplified the Western heritage and spirit of Scottsdale. A true Western gentleman, Tony tirelessly defended Scottsdale’s equestrian lifestyle and fought to preserve the open space that defines Scottsdale’s Western character. I enjoyed serving with Tony and admired his dedication to the citizens of Scottsdale. While deeply saddened by his loss, we can take comfort in the lasting legacy of Tony’s decades of service to the City of Scottsdale.
The cover of the November, 2003 issue of The Peak featured a photo of the Nelssen family’s pet mule, Marg and Hannah Nelssen, a the guard at Pinnacle Peak County Club Estates. Tony took the photograph and designed the cover.
Robert Cappel
President, Winfield HOA Board of Directors
I first became aware of Tony Nelssen after he became a council member and I became an HOA Board member in 2006. Because decisions by the City Council could adversely impact the quality of life and property values of our HOA residents, I felt it was important to be actively involved and attend the Council meetings. Over these past four years, I admired Councilman Nelssen more with each Council meeting. Tony was always prepared on every issue and often saw concerns that others had not thought about.
Tony always seemed to take the extra steps to make sure he understood all the issues before he voted. He went out and looked at cell installations to see if he thought they fit with the character of Scottsdale. He came to the Summit commercial center one evening to hear how loud the music in areas where residents lived that was coming from a restaurant wanting a live entertainment permit. That’s the person he was, making the extra effort to be fair to all sides and fully understand every concern.
Tony had a deep understanding of what made Scottsdale unique;why we all wanted to live in Scottsdale and why our property values were higher than Phoenix and other surrounding cities. When the Summit commercial center was being built, Tony made the developer transplant every saguaro and palo verde along Dynamite Road and he hauled water to water them for two years. Every one of those plants is still alive today. He was a protector of our unique environment and our quality of life and he will be deeply missed.
The Peak’s October, 2005 issue featured a photograph that Tony took and his cover design.
Les Conklin
President, GPPA, Editor, A Peek at the Peak magazine, Volunteer, Friends of the Scenic Drive
My last e-mail from Tony reads, “I like the owls.” We were selecting the photo that he’d use for the cover of this issue of The Peak. Neither of us suspected that it would be his picture that would appear, not the owls’.
Tony did more than “like the owls,” he loved them. He loved everything about the Sonoran Desert, including its flora, fauna, and western ways. He loved Scottsdale (most of the time), but he loved his home and family the most. He was proud, passionate, persistent, and usually successful in protecting the things he loved.
I met Tony for the first time at Jane Rau’s house in the mid-80s, when the possible annexation of the Desert Foothills area by the City of Scottsdale was first discussed. In 1994, when we began the effort to enhance the Scenic Drive, Tony and Marg were actively involved. Marg and the two young children volunteered for the Take Pride in Scottsdale litter cleanups; they still do. Marg drew the sketches of desert flora that appear on the Scenic Drive exhibits.
In Friends’ first years, Herb Drinkwater appointed his assistant to help move drive projects through the bureaucracy. As the years passed, Tony used the city relationships he was establishing to move new projects along, e.g. burying power lines, painting traffic signal standards, getting trees donated for beautification, hiding utility boxes, and more. But my lasting images of Tony and his family – Tony watering donated trees and Marg and the kids picking up trash – capture their commitment to respecting our natural environment and of serving our community.
Tony took the photographs for, and designed this cover of the September 1996 issue of The Peak. The cover features the founders and early members of GPPA.
Barbara Copeland
Past President, GPPA, Volunteer, Friends of the Scenic Drive
The Scottsdale community has had the privilege of knowing and working with Tony Nelssen. His passion for the Sonoran Desert and its wildlife inspired a whole city to change its building codes to enable people and nature to co-habitat. NAOS (natural area open space) allowed the building of homes, while preserving corridors for the wildlife to roam in their natural habitat.
Tony was a hands-on community leader. He often worked cleaning up the scenic corridor roadways, watering trees in the Scenic Drive monument area, attending countless city meetings, working tirelessly educating all of us about the desert. We delighted in his ability to capture “life” in photography. We all reaped the rewards of his efforts. He will be sorely missed. I salute you, Tony!
Jim Heitel
Member Scottsdale Preservation Commission, Past Member Scottsdale Planning Commission
Years ago, while I was serving on the planning commission with Tony, we used to joke about how difficult it was for me to explain my thoughts on any particular subject of passion, in any sort of abbreviated manner. To convey what I would like to say about Tony in this short format is an impossible task.
His friends knew him as a kind, compassionate, and jovial man, a lover of animals, and of nature. Many residents; knew of him because of his passion as an advocate for the rural equestrian heritage of Scottsdale, and as a strong advocate for the completion of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. His passion to defend Scottsdale’s equestrian and desert heritage led him to serve Scottsdale in an untold number of ways, including his years on the planning commission and ultimately on the city council. Those of us who had similar passions knew we had an unwavering ally when it came to the many important political battles fought in the name of that heritage.
We’ve lost an irreplaceable friend and companion, and with that loss, the raging fire of his passion has temporarily dimmed. To those of us who now mourn, our greatest tribute to him will be to ensure that fire is refueled with the same energy so that it continues to burn brightly in his memory. Happy trails my friend,
Karlynn Keyes & Family
Karlynn is president of The Trail of Painted Ponies, Inc.
You must be the change you wish to see in the world. ~Mahatma Ghandi
Tony Nelssen was certainly the change that he wished for our little corner of the world. He was a tireless advocate for the preservation of the vanishing West and the fragile Sonoran Desert. It was my privilege to work with Tony years ago when we collaborated to preserve parts of the Scenic Drive in North Scottsdale, through a project that we called the Great Sonoran. Tony went on to serve the city he loved in a myriad of ways, always with a smile and a quiet confidence that reflected his ‘‘can do” attitude. This was a man who walked the walk and talked the talk. As we remember Tony and his extraordinary passion for this land and her people, let us honor him by taking the time to care and to get involved. Let us all do more and be more in the hopes that we, too, can become the change we wish to see.
Christine Kovach
Board Member, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy
Councilman Tony Nelssen was a long-standing advocate for preserving Scottsdale’s open spaces. He was a staunch supporter of Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve – from its conception to creation. He showed up at every event and trail opening, on horseback with his cowboy hat, beautiful wife Marge, and would give a lesson to anyone who asked about the difference between a horse, mule and donkey. He was passionate about the desert, the arts, his horses and Scottsdale’s Sonoran desert. The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy graciously acknowledges and honors his tenacity and hard work toward preserving Scottsdale’s Sonoran treasure – the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Thank you Councilman Nelssen, you will be missed.
Mayor Lane speaks at formal naming of the “Tony Nelssen Equestrian Center” at WestWorld on September 29, 2011.
Jim Lane Mayor, City of Scottsdale
Tony was far more than a cowboy image, though he had that mastered. He was the real deal. We lost him too soon, and it still hurts. But it is comforting for me to think about the tremendous impact Tony made on so many people during his relatively short time with us. He lived his life by the cowboy code with cowboy values, and in the process of his life he gave lessons in its use. Honesty, integrity and loyalty were the values he held highest. Having the courage in your convictions and standing up for what you believe were traits of a cowboy living by that code. These were the fence posts that guided Tony’s life.
It isn’t about image. For a cowboy those values are a reward unto themselves. Tony lived by that code and it served him well. He and Marg raised their children, Ian and Hannah, by that code and it is obvious that it has grounded them well.
Thank you for your service and friendship Tony, you will be greatly missed.
Ken Lew
Board of Directors, GPPA, Volunteer, Friends of the Scenic Drive
Tony and I had many conversations and discussions, many were memorable and thought provoking. At times, we disagreed but he was always insightful and constructive. He knew what the issues were and he acted upon them with his heart and soul. He was an individual that stood up for what he believed in and you could always rely on him to set the example. He was committed to making sure that the City of Scottsdale not be compromised. I admire him for his convictions and his consistency. I am proud to have known him and will in my own way continue his legacy and work to be socially responsible. That will be my lasting tribute to him. I will miss you Tony.
Ken Melnick
Past Member, Board of Directors, GPPA
I didn’t know Tony Nelssen well and I’m sure he didn’t even know my name, but I knew his. Besides meeting him five or so times, I followed his voting record on the city council and it didn’t take long before I was aware of his passion to preserve northern Scottsdale and its unique way of life.
Tony didn’t want Scottsdale to be just any big city. He clearly saw the advantages to those who live here and those who potentially come to visit, that it’s the natural environment and culture of the northern area of Scottsdale that’s its strength.
Nobody will miss Tony more than his family and close friends but all of us who knew what he stood for will also dearly miss his presence.
Tony designed the cover of the July-August 2004 issue of The Peak that featured this photograph of “Sabino” taken by Dennis Liddel.
Howard Myers
President, Desert Foothills Homeowners Association, Volunteer, Friends of the Scenic Drive, Member, Scottsdale Preservation Commission
Over the years, Tony and I served on many citizen committees together and got I learned that beneath that rather large, intimidating exterior was the heart of a caring and compassionate person, one with high values and standards, and one that wanted only the best for his family, his neighborhood, and his city. Perhaps this is what Marg, Tony’s wife, fell in love with and what his children were raised with, perhaps it is what people all over the city saw when he became a city councilman. It’s what inspired me.
He had a passion for the land, preserving the desert, and also for maintaining what “makes Scottsdale special,” words he spoke often. He poured his heart and soul into achieving those things, but always with honesty and respect for others and their opinions. He didn’t do this to get fame or fortune, or even recognition for all he accomplished, but just to achieve those end goals. Developers couldn’t buy him off. They could earn his respect and approval, if they designed and built projects that respected the desert and Scottsdale’s history, and character. Such a person is very rare and special. It’s why all of Scottsdale will miss him more than it can imagine. I count myself as privileged to have known him, learned from him, and called him my friend.
. The Poulson Family Volunteers, Friends of the Scenic Drive
Our sincere sympathies to Tony Nelssen’s family. We appreciate how Tony worked hard to serve the citizens of Scottsdale and represented Scottsdale for what it really is and should remain, “The West’s Most Western Town.”
Thanks so much Tony, you will be truly missed.
Maxine Rosenberg
Board of Directors, GPPA, “Dining Out” Columnist – A Peek at the Peak magazine
Tony has been a cornerstone of GPPA for many years. His dedication to preserving the integrity of our environment and his tireless efforts in raising environmental awareness was greatly responsible for maintaining the pristine nature of our desert and the quality of life in Scottsdale. He will be deeply missed as an advocate, visionary and friend.
Ginger Schoenau
Board Member, GPPA
I met Tony Nelssen when he was serving on GPPA’s board. He worked relentlessly to keep on top of zoning changes and the destruction of desert open space by developers. I always felt better knowing that he was so concerned and dedicated to the preservation of the land. I appreciated his, willingness to take the time to educate others about the importance of maintaining the flora, fauna, and ecosystems for present and future generations.
I was privileged to visit in the Nelssen home and tour the studio. I found love abounding with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. I saw the pride of accomplishment in a lifetime of work to build a home, and I saw love in family, sharing interests and pets. I feel honored to have met Tony and the whole Nelssen family. Truly, my life has been enriched.
Sandie McCune
Art Director, A Peek at the Peak Magazine
Working with Tony the last nine years was such a pleasure. His creativity and photography skills resulted in Peak magazine covers that captured the attention and respect of thousands of readers, issue after issue. Tony will be missed both personally and professionally.”
Minnel Sefelt
Board of Directors, GPPA, “Here and There in Art” Columnist, A Peek at the Peak Magazine
Tony stood above most, not only in his city council service, but in his volunteer services to the community. A photographer himself, he employed the technical and artistic expertise necessary to prepare and finalize The Peak’s cover art, enhancing the creative works of other artists and photographers.
In the July/August 2009 issue of The Peak, I wrote about the creative art of Tony’s wife, Marg. In the article, I also referred to their children, Ian and Hannah (Hannah, when in high school, wrote a number of articles for this magazine). In my column, I referred to Tony and his family as “Family with a capital F.” So they were. Whatever their future endeavors and wherever those endeavors may take them, Ian, Hannah, and Marg will continue Tony’s legacy of enriching the world and each other’s lives.
Tony had a special love for mules, especially the family’s pet mules. Marg often used them as subjects for her paintings and Hannah has shared interesting tidbits about mules in her articles. A permanent fixture in my memory is a news photo of Tony with several of the family’s mules. The mules were wary of the news photographer, who in order to get the best picture, had learned way over the corral fence into their territory. The mules don’t look happy. It was a good thing for the newsman that Tony was tall and strong or that newsman might have gotten a different kind of close-up shot than expected.
That is how I shall remember Tony, tall, strong, and enthusiastic about causes, but unassuming about his own importance. He fought to preserve Scottsdale’s reputation as the “West’s Most Western Town.” He fought to preserve the beauties of Arizona’s natural life and desert. To those he helped individually and to those many who cared about the causes he espoused, Tony was like Robin Hood, a man of legendary proportions.
John Washington
Treasurer, Nelssen Reelection Campaign
To me, Tony Nelssen represented perspective, the perspective of looking at issues through the lens of experience. His experience came from a quarter of a century of personal history trying to keep Scottsdale unique and special, and his family’s nearly century and a half of living here in the Valley.
Beyond that, Tony had an artist’s perspective on our community. Through his photography he captured the beauty of the desert that many people can’t see, or that they take for granted. He also had the perspective of a teacher, helping his students and his friends develop their own perspectives. From my friendship with Tony, my perspective on Scottsdale is sharper and clearer.
The cover photo and design of the March, 2005 issue of The Peak featured one of the family’s pet mules.
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