SCOTTSDALE — The leader of a Brazilian university was killed Oct. 16 when strong winds blew a piece of roofing material loose and struck him in the head during a walking tour of Taliesin West, Scottsdale police said.
Brother Rogério Renato Mateucci, 55, was rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and police said no foul play is suspected in what they described as a weather-related accident.
Mateucci was among Brazilian university officials visiting Arizona for sessions at Arizona State University, a colleague told The Arizona Republic. Much of Arizona was under wind alerts that day.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, which operates the site, offered condolences and said Taliesin West is closed to the public until further notice. The university held a Mass in his honor Oct. 19.
Sources: ABC15, AZFamily, Arizona Daily Star/Arizona Republic. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Photograph by Greg O'Beirne / CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons.
