Peter Paul “Papa Pete” Carrillo

Peter Paul “Papa Pete” Carrillo

passed away in the early evening on Tuesday, February 6 with his wife and daughter at his side. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend and many are heartbroken at his loss. Pete was born at the Southside District Hospital in Mesa, Arizona on June 29, 1939 to Artemisa and Alvin Carrillo. His mother died when he was 12 and he was raised by his Grandpa and Grandma Andrade, aunts, cousins, brothers George and Andy and sister, Sally in Chandler, Arizona. He in turn, became a father figure to his little brother, Richard. Pete’s strong work ethic began as a young boy, shining shoes in downtown Chandler. He would often say he grew up without much money but never felt poor as he could go to the theatre, watch Cowboy movies on the big screen and get a popcorn and a Coke for 25 cents. His Aunt Frances Estrella was a founding patron of St. Mary’s Grammar School in Chandler where he attended and met one of his best buddies, Herb Kelley. Chandler was a small farming town surrounded by desert and near the Gila River Indian Reservation in the 1950s. Pete, his best pal, John Frederick, and their friends staged many an adventure climbing the local water tower, scaling the roof of the San Marcos Hotel, cruising Arizona Avenue, blowing up cactus and exploring mines. He loved sports and played baseball at Chandler High School and Varsity football for the Wolves in 1955 and 1956. He was a proud graduate of CHS 1957 and attended many reunions throughout his life. In the Fall of 1957 Pete met his sister Sally’s babysitter who was watching his nephew, Dennis. The shy, pretty brunette, Rosalyn Ellis, made an impression. One rainy day in the Spring of 1958, Rosie was walking home from school under the shelter of the verandah of the Chandler Arizonan newspaper where Pete was working and he spied her through the window. He darted out and asked if she needed a ride home. She accepted the ride and so began a 60 year relationship. Pete worked at the Chandler Arizonan newspaper from 1958 to 1964 as the Sports Editor, Photographer, Proof Reader and occasional Editor while attending Arizona State College. Pete, Rosie and friends participated in the successful campaign to change the name to Arizona State University in 1958. On June 30, 1962 Pete and Rosie were married in Phoenix with John and Linda Frederick as their witnesses. Pete graduated from ASU in 1964 with a BA in Education and was a proud Sun Devil with season football tickets for decades – attending games with Rosie through last Fall of 2017. After graduation from ASU, Pete was offered a teaching job at Chaffey High School in Ontario, California, so he and Rosie headed West in their Corvair. They had a daughter, Kelly, in 1965 and a son, Corey, in 1968 and lived most of their lives in the beautiful town of Upland, California at 1785 O’Malley. Pete’s brother Andy and and sister Sally also moved to California and raised their families nearby so there were many family picnics at a park or the beach. Pete continued his education while teaching and received a Master of Arts in Education from Cal State LA in 1971. Mr. Carrillo taught Journalism, Business, Photography, Typing and Shorthand at Chaffey for many years and was proud of the trophies his students won in writing competitions. One of his favorite students, Charles “Chuck” Bentley, was a great friend throughout his life. When his teaching career ended, Pete became an award winning real estate agent for Century 21 Hembree Realty and then a certified Real Estate Appraiser in 1982. He started his own business, Peter P Carrillo Appraisals, with Rosie as his partner, and drove nearly every mile of the Southern California freeways to various properties from San Diego to the Simi Valley until he retired and moved back to Arizona in 2010. For the past eight years living in Scottsdale, Pete has been a devoted “Papa” to Kelly’s daughter Haley and Corey’s daughters Katie and Camryn and a caretaker to the family dogs Harley, Jake and Max. He loved going to ASU baseball and football games and Haley’s club volleyball games with his dearest buddy and Haley’s dad, Brian McMahon. Numerous family outings included dining out, golfing, festivals, road trips to the Grand Canyon, Bisbee, Prescott, Tucson, Seal Beach and a wonderful week with the family in Corona Del Mar, California to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary with Rosie in 2012. He and Rosie attended nearly all of Haley’s Arcadia High volleyball games and “Papa Pete” was known to many friends at school. Pete is survived by Rosie, daughter Kelly and husband Darryl, son Corey and wife Stacey, granddaughters Haley Rose, Katie Mae and Camryn June, brothers Andy and Richard and sister Sally and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. His kids will forever be influenced by the life he lived: bold, honest, filled with integrity and a great passion for life, family, sports, movies, travel and exploration, determination to do the best – always. His was a tremendous example of unconditional love and fierce loyalty and protection for all whom he cherished.

Memorial lunch at Serrano’s in downtown Chandler, Saturday, February 24 at noon. ASU attire welcome. Text RSVP to 602-332-7626.