Mike Haggerty, a former Tucson city councilman and small-business owner, died Monday of lung cancer at age 81.
Haggerty, a Democrat, was appointed to the City Council to represent Ward 3 in 1991 and served one term.
Haggerty grew up on a ranch in Oregon. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and history from the University of Oregon, where he met his wife, Mimi.
He was a teacher in Stockton, Calif., before the couple moved to the Bay Area and then to Tucson. They had five children and 11 grandchildren.
They opened the Piney Hollow jewelry store in 1972 and, with their daughter Shannon Haggerty Harrison, ran it until 2008. For most of that time, the store was located in the Fourth Avenue shopping district.
He always wanted the business to be a "mom and pop shop" and he loved meeting interesting people who walked into the store, his daughter said.
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Haggerty was a key player with the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association and was the group's director from 1986 to 1988.
"He was like the mayor of Fourth Avenue. He was a real advocate and did a good job working with all kinds of people, neighborhood people, businesspeople," said Molly Mc- Kassen, who served on the City Council with Haggerty.
Haggerty was appointed to the council when George Miller resigned to run for mayor, but he never wanted a career in politics.
"He had a lot of characteristics that the council needed at the time," said former staff aide and close friend Scott Egan. Haggerty was a principled and honest small-business owner who cared a great deal about his neighborhood and his city, he said.
Haggerty put a sign over his desk that said: "What is right is not always popular and what is popular is not always right."
Haggerty was part of a group that helped remove the city manager and the fire chief after leaky underground storage tanks led to revelations about dishonesty and retaliation. And then he was part of the selection committee that hired former city manager Mike Brown.
"He served the community exceptionally well," said state Rep. Bruce Wheeler, who served on the City Council at the same time and was a close friend. "He was a good, decent, honest, family man, friend and public servant."
He had a great sense of humor and a positive outlook, even in trying times, Wheeler said.
His family is planning a memorial service for him at the end of the month.
Contact reporter Becky Pallack at bpallack@azstarnet.com or 573-4346.
