William Perry Whiteside

Bill was truly one in a million, a leader whose impact went far beyond the workplace. His life was transformed early in his adulthood when he began his relationship with Jesus, a faith that would become the foundation of his character and actions. Colleagues often said he was "the best boss I ever had," a testament to his unique ability to both inspire excellence and nurture genuine connections. His kindness knew no bounds, extending not just to those in the spotlight but to everyone he encountered, especially those who might have felt overlooked by others - a reflection of his deep Christian values.
His dry wit and clever sarcasm brought light to even the most challenging days, while his thoughtful nature ensured everyone felt valued and supported. In meetings, he was known for his punctuality and preparation but also his ability to make every person feel heard. He had an intuitive sense of what needed to be done and how best to accomplish it, always considering both the practical and human elements of any situation. But perhaps his greatest joy came from being "Pop-pop" to his seven grandchildren. He enjoyed attending his grandchildren's events from sports (helping him graduate from "Map Boy" to "Ball Boy") to graduations. He delighted in giving to them and setting them up for a successful future.
The sudden void left by his passing has shaken all who knew him, a reflection of how deeply he touched our lives. His legacy lives on not just in the projects he completed or the standards he set, but in the countless lives he enriched with his warmth, sympathy, and gracious spirit. Bill showed us that true leadership is about more than just achieving goals - it's about lifting others up along the way.
Bill was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend; he is survived by his wife of 26 years, Gina Jones and step son Justin Jones; his daughters Kelly (Joshua Rayman) and Mandy (Ed Garrett) with his first wife, Carol, and his seven grandchildren, Caleb, Elijah, and Ava Rayman, and Maddie, Eddie, Kenzie, and Bear Garrett.
Bill's history:
Bill was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 21, 1947, the son of the late Loy and Geneva Whiteside. Bill mostly grew up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and was raised with his older brother Howard.
Bill graduated from Glenbard West High School, where he lettered two years in baseball. He then went on to graduate with a degree in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University (which he lovingly called "The Harvard of the Midwest"). He was offered a job at Sperry Flight Systems (now Honeywell Flight Systems) in Phoenix and eagerly jumped at the chance to get out of snow country. His initial job was very intriguing as he was assigned to work on the flight controller team for the (then brand new) Boeing 747.
It was very depressing at the time, but Sperry laid off over 40% of their workforce (less than 2 years after he started) and Bill didn't make the cut. Looking back he would comment how God is in charge as the layoff forced a career change that got him into commercial real estate. His first role was with Del E. Webb Realty and Management Co., where he was an office leasing agent. He worked there for 13 years with various assignments, including moving to Houston, Texas, to handle the remodeling and re-leasing of a high-rise in the downtown area. His final role was senior vice president of leasing and new business development.
In 1984, he was offered a position at Westcor Partners (at the time the Valley's premier ground-up shopping center developer) to help start an office building division. Despite the success of developing three office complexes the investment in retail was significantly more profitable so it was discontinued. This led to another God-controlled event as Westcor promoted him to run the Property Management for the whole company. Ultimately Bill was rewarded by becoming a partner in the firm. This lasted until 2002, when they sold the company to Macerich. Bill was offered a position to stay, which he did until he retired in 2014.
Bill enjoyed many other activities as he coached t-ball, taught five-year-olds Sunday school for 11 years, held several local and national positions with the Institute of Real Estate Management, was president of the Scottsdale YMCA, president of the local chapter of the Building Owners and Management Association; and served on the Board of Bethany Bible Church. He also served six years in the Army National Guard.
Golf was his favorite hobby, and he and Gina joined Pinnacle Peak Country Club (PPCC) in 2003. He served on several committees at PPCC and was its President in 2016. His legacy (along with the General Manager Doc Belitz) was planning and implementing a complete remodel of the Clubhouse.
Bill adopted ASU's football program and became a season ticket holder starting in 1982. He was also an original season ticket holder for the Fiesta Bowl that began in 1971.
He regularly thanked God (even when he found a great parking spot at the mall) for such a special life and family.
A Celebration of Life will be held
Wednesday, January 8, at 10 am
Highlands Church, 9050 E Pinnacle Peak Rd, Scottsdale
In memory of Bill, donations may be sent to Vitalant.org.