Official Notification from the Willo Neighborhood Association regarding the tragic and untimely passing of our President, Brad Brauer.

Dear Neighbors and Friends:

On behalf of the Willo Neighborhood Association, I am sorry to let you know that our dear friend, neighbor, and Willo Neighborhood President, Brad Brauer, passed away suddenly on Thursday night (1/22/2026).

Sharing such tragic news is not easy, as Brad has been the heart and soul of Willo for so many years. A long-serving member of the Willo Neighborhood Association Board, including multiple terms as our President, Brad has led the neighborhood through many challenges and successes through the relationships he forged with neighbors, community leaders, and our elected officials at the City of Phoenix and at the Arizona State Capitol.

I don’t think there is a single Willo resident whose life has not been made better by Brad’s thoughtful stewardship of the neighborhood we all love. Brad’s leadership and years of dedication have left a lasting impact on all of us.

Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to Brad’s husband, Andrew Sansoni, as well as his mother and sister.

Future information on services will be communicated.

-Dr. Bob Cannon

Obituary and Services Information

* SAVE HISTORIC ARIZONA - SHAZ *

We support the protection of the Willo Historic District and its unique character per the Willo Conservation Plan. We believe the neighborhood should maintain its single-family zoning and not be subdivided to build townhomes, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes. We support following the City of Phoenix's Historic Preservation guidelines when new buildings, such as ADUs, are constructed in Willo.

Diversity and inclusion are deeply rooted in Willo’s history, which risks getting lost in the noise around this housing issue. Our concerns over historic preservation are focused on architecture, not exclusion. The conversation should be centered on common-sense solutions that solve the housing crisis without destroying Phoenix’s historic neighborhoods. - W. Aaron Montaño Searles, Phoenix New Times

CLICK HERE TO SIGN THE PETITION TODAY

This law takes effect January 1, 2026 and could dramatically reshape our historic neighborhoods.

Click here to read the letter that the Association recently sent to Phoenix City Manager Jeff Barton, requesting that Willo residents be included in public meetings to explain how Willo could be affected by the "Missing Middle" housing law.

Click here to read the letter that the Association recently sent to Representative Walter Blackman, Chairman of the House Government Committee, in support of HB 2719, which would exempt Arizona's historic districts from the "Missing Middle" housing law.