<p>Chairman of the Basha’s Family of Stores, Eddie Basha Jr., passed away at age 75 on Tuesday afternoon.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Born in Chandler, Arizona, Basha was a key advocate of education, quality healthcare, the arts, and feeding the hungry.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The Bashas' Family of Stores was founded in 1932 by brothers Ike and Eddie Basha Sr.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The company now operates over 130 stores in Arizona and includes four distinct formats: Bashas', Bashas' Diné, AJ's Fine Foods and Food City.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods was a friend of Basha's for more than three decades. He described Basha as a man of passion and compassion – with an unwavering desire to better Arizona in any way he could, as reported by CBS5 Arizona.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Grant said Basha was a "part of every piece of fabric of this state."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">"You don't have to be cynical," Grant said. "You don't have to be negative. You don't have to be destructive. You can actually be positive. You can be optimistic. And you can fight for the rights of other people and give to other people. And you can change the world. And he certainly changed this state for the better."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">In a statement issued to members, the Basha family said, "It is our collective strength that has seen us through difficult days. This strength will continue to move us forward, even though we have suffered such a tragic loss. As a family, we want to thank you for your devotion, thoughts and prayers."<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Our condolences go out to Eddie’s family and friends.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
