Arthur William "Art" Tate, age 85, passed away peacefully at home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, on November 7, 2025.
Art was born on August 24,1940, in Haskell, Texas, to Frank Asbury Daniel Tate and Mary Louise (née Holland). He spent his early years in Texas before the family relocated to Long Beach, California in 1960, where he began his college education.
Art married his first wife, Nina Sue (née Pitts), in 1962, and together they started careers and became very involved with each other's families. Art began his career in finance with Household Finance in a management training program. In 1967 he went into banking, excelled, and was fast tracked into management. In 1975, at the age of 35, he became one of the banking industry's youngest bank presidents.
In 1981, Art married Maureen Margaret (née Kent) of Glendora, CA becoming stepfather to her sons, Matthew and Jon Ver Halen. Art's charisma with people and the respect he had earned as a financial executive led to co-founding Guardian Bank in the Los Angeles financial district in 1983. As ever, despite the pressure and demands of the bank, Art prioritized family, creating cherished memories boating off the Southern California coast, traveling abroad, and enjoying family time on the Colorado River.
In 1994, Art and Maureen relocated to Lake Havasu City, AZ. They founded Nationwide Homes in partnership with Nina's firm Nationwide Construction Company and all worked tirelessly over the next decade. They built more than 2,000 high-end homes, earning recognition for their quality, craftsmanship, and community leadership. During this time Art and Maureen founded 3 additional businesses - a title company, an insurance company, and a real estate brokerage with the assistance of his brother Jaime.
Never one to slow down, Art and Maureen embarked on a new venture in 2007 when they purchased a small, little-known resort on the Colorado River. With vision, determination, and heart, they transformed it into Pirate Cove Resort—a nationally recognized destination known for its warmth, hospitality, and world-class experiences for high-performance boating, extreme sports, and desert recreation. Family remained central to everything they built together. He and Maureen enjoyed time at their home in Lido Island, many weekend getaways with their dear friends, gathering in Napa Valley, and as a long, long tradition relaxing on Sundays with each other watching football. Art's larger-than-life presence was felt everywhere. His quiet demeanor was palpable, yet his enthusiasm for happy times was as contagious as his smile. If there was fun to be had, Art was the first to make sure everyone around him had the best time.
In the words of his business associate, Art was an extraordinary businessman whose greatest passion was helping others succeed. With unwavering belief in people, Art was kind, caring, and deeply committed to those around him always encouraging people to be the best versions of themselves. He approached life with courage, focus, and an unshakeable commitment to those he loved. Art's legacy lives on in all vast number of people he inspired.
We all feel so close to him because of the way he engaged our feelings. Some might call it charisma, but it seemed so much more than that. If you knew Art, you felt special. If you talked to Art, you felt the challenge of intellect and wit. If you spent time with him, you felt like something amazing was happening. Art will be deeply missed for his heart, his humor, his love of life, and the way he made others feel seen and valued.
Art is preceded in death by his beloved wife of over 40 years, Maureen, who passed away on October 22, 2024. He is survived by his stepsons Matthew James Ver Halen and wife Susan (née Traywick) of Bakersfield, CA, and their three sons Joshua, Nicholas and Henry; Jon Peter Ver Halen and wife Elaine (née Ewing) of Dallas, TX, and their three children Charlotte, Lillian, and Jack; his brother Jaime Frank Tate and wife Christine (née Wahl) of Hemet, CA, and their son Rodney and wife Kari (née Staben) of Camarillo, CA and three children, son Seth, and step-children Andrew and Grace; and his younger brother Bentley Scott Tate and wife Kerry (née Sullivan) of Half Moon Bay, CA, and their son Ryan.
A private service will be held at Queen of Heaven Cemetery Chapel in Rowland Heights, CA. The family welcomes friends to share their sentiments and memories in the comments. Your reflections are truly appreciated by all.
Art was born on August 24,1940, in Haskell, Texas, to Frank Asbury Daniel Tate and Mary Louise (née Holland). He spent his early years in Texas before the family relocated to Long Beach, California in 1960, where he began his college education.
Art married his first wife, Nina Sue (née Pitts), in 1962, and together they started careers and became very involved with each other's families. Art began his career in finance with Household Finance in a management training program. In 1967 he went into banking, excelled, and was fast tracked into management. In 1975, at the age of 35, he became one of the banking industry's youngest bank presidents.
In 1981, Art married Maureen Margaret (née Kent) of Glendora, CA becoming stepfather to her sons, Matthew and Jon Ver Halen. Art's charisma with people and the respect he had earned as a financial executive led to co-founding Guardian Bank in the Los Angeles financial district in 1983. As ever, despite the pressure and demands of the bank, Art prioritized family, creating cherished memories boating off the Southern California coast, traveling abroad, and enjoying family time on the Colorado River.
In 1994, Art and Maureen relocated to Lake Havasu City, AZ. They founded Nationwide Homes in partnership with Nina's firm Nationwide Construction Company and all worked tirelessly over the next decade. They built more than 2,000 high-end homes, earning recognition for their quality, craftsmanship, and community leadership. During this time Art and Maureen founded 3 additional businesses - a title company, an insurance company, and a real estate brokerage with the assistance of his brother Jaime.
Never one to slow down, Art and Maureen embarked on a new venture in 2007 when they purchased a small, little-known resort on the Colorado River. With vision, determination, and heart, they transformed it into Pirate Cove Resort—a nationally recognized destination known for its warmth, hospitality, and world-class experiences for high-performance boating, extreme sports, and desert recreation. Family remained central to everything they built together. He and Maureen enjoyed time at their home in Lido Island, many weekend getaways with their dear friends, gathering in Napa Valley, and as a long, long tradition relaxing on Sundays with each other watching football. Art's larger-than-life presence was felt everywhere. His quiet demeanor was palpable, yet his enthusiasm for happy times was as contagious as his smile. If there was fun to be had, Art was the first to make sure everyone around him had the best time.
In the words of his business associate, Art was an extraordinary businessman whose greatest passion was helping others succeed. With unwavering belief in people, Art was kind, caring, and deeply committed to those around him always encouraging people to be the best versions of themselves. He approached life with courage, focus, and an unshakeable commitment to those he loved. Art's legacy lives on in all vast number of people he inspired.
We all feel so close to him because of the way he engaged our feelings. Some might call it charisma, but it seemed so much more than that. If you knew Art, you felt special. If you talked to Art, you felt the challenge of intellect and wit. If you spent time with him, you felt like something amazing was happening. Art will be deeply missed for his heart, his humor, his love of life, and the way he made others feel seen and valued.
Art is preceded in death by his beloved wife of over 40 years, Maureen, who passed away on October 22, 2024. He is survived by his stepsons Matthew James Ver Halen and wife Susan (née Traywick) of Bakersfield, CA, and their three sons Joshua, Nicholas and Henry; Jon Peter Ver Halen and wife Elaine (née Ewing) of Dallas, TX, and their three children Charlotte, Lillian, and Jack; his brother Jaime Frank Tate and wife Christine (née Wahl) of Hemet, CA, and their son Rodney and wife Kari (née Staben) of Camarillo, CA and three children, son Seth, and step-children Andrew and Grace; and his younger brother Bentley Scott Tate and wife Kerry (née Sullivan) of Half Moon Bay, CA, and their son Ryan.
A private service will be held at Queen of Heaven Cemetery Chapel in Rowland Heights, CA. The family welcomes friends to share their sentiments and memories in the comments. Your reflections are truly appreciated by all.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Arthur William Tate, please visit our flower store.
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