By Edythe Jensen
Arizona Republic
January 22, 2008
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0122cr-death0123.html?&wired
A popular Chandler youth mentor has died at 39.
Those who knew him say Robert "Scott" Detherage changed the lives of hundreds of disadvantaged teens by coaching them in a public housing basketball team and encouraging them to study, stay in school and stay out of trouble.
"He raised money for his programs and took us on trips. He bought some kids their first pair of new tennis shoes," said Casey Johnston, 29, who played on Detherage's basketball team 14 years ago and is now a Chandler firefighter. "Scott was always so proud that I became a firefighter."
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| Robert "Scott" Detherage |
The former youth program director for Chandler Public Housing, Detherage left his city job more than a year ago for health reasons and died last week. His friends said he developed severe headaches and had brain surgery recently. City officials declined to disclose details of his condition.
Alberto Romero said Detherage changed his life. Now a federal probation officer living in Queen Creek,Romero, 30, was a teen living in Chandler public housing when he joined the sports program. "He kept a bunch of us kids from becoming involved in bad things. Even when he would get on our cases, he was always very positive. I remember him saying, 'you're too good of a kid to get involved with that stuff,' " Romero said.
What most people didn't know was Detherage was also an alleged crime victim pre- paring to testify against Monsignor Dale Fushek, former pastor of St..Tim- othy's Catholic Community in Mesa. Fushek is facing sex charges for his alleged con- duct with church youths in the 1980s. Court documents allege that Detherage was one of Fushek's victims, but a statement released by the Maricopa County Attor- ney's office said prosecutors knew of his declining health and dismissed the charges related to him so he wouldn't have to testify.
"The Maricopa County Attorney's Office is saddened by the death of this courageous witness. A charge (in the Fushek case) related to this witness was dismissed some time ago, in large part because of his health," said the statement, released Friday.
Few knew about Detherage's involvement in the case; Johnston said he didn't talk about it. "I don't believe he was a victim. He always had such a positive attitude, even when he was sick."
Detherage's former boss, city housing manager Kurt Knutson, said he didn't know about his former employee's involvement with the Fushek case and that it didn't seem to affect his sunny outlook.
"Scott believed if you give people opportunities and encouraged them, they could be successful in life," Knutson said. "For disadvantaged youth, Scott became their mentor, their father figure."
City Councilwoman Trinity Donovan is former director of Improving Chandler Area Neighborhoods, a non-profit that helps central city youth. She said Detherage was well-known for his commitment to disadvantaged families and children.
"He really cared," she said.
Donovan said she attended high school with Detherage's wife, Carmen, 30. The couple has a son Steffen, 10, and a daughter Kaylee, 7.
Detherage's funeral Monday at Sun Valley Community Church drew one of the largest crowds for a single event in church history - 775, Johnston said. Now that his mentor's widow and children need help, the Chandler firefighter said he plans to be there for a man who helped so many.
Donations may be made at any Wells Fargo branch to Memorial Account FBO Scott Detherage Benefit Memorial Fund. Information: 602-705-3919.
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