Blenman-Elm Neighborhood Association (BENA) is a non-profit organization created to foster and encourage a sense of community and cooperation among its residents, schools, churches, and businesses. Blenman Elm Neighborhood is on the national registry of historic neighborhoods and is one of Tucson’s most beautiful and beloved areas of town. BENA aims to preserve the character of this outstanding neighborhood as one of the best places to live in Tucson.

Who we are

  • Alan Myklebust

    PRESIDENT

    About: I grew up in the Omaha area, and after completing several college degrees, my wife and I moved to Tucson in 1977 where we raised two daughters. Back then, Tucson seemed like a big small town compared to the metropolitan area we were used to in the Midwest. 

    Sector or cross-streets: Treat and Drachman, a Pueblo revival adobe house with a large mesquite tree 

    Trade/Occupation: Retired special education teacher and administrator for various school systems 

    Free-time activities: Gardening, creating artwork with found materials, walking and biking, playing with grandchildren, photography and volunteering for BENA

    Favorite thing about Blenman-Elm: Friendly people of all ages living together peacefully in our beautiful, eclectic neighborhood 

  • Peter Vieira

    VICE-PRESIDENT

    About: I grew up New Hampshire, but my family has been in Arizona for years. I came to Tucson from France to support my mother, and then my partner and puppy and I moved to Blenman Elm.

    Sector/Cross-streets: Norton & Helen

    Trade/Occupation: Software developer, small electronics repair professional.

    Free-time activities: Homeownership and preservation, trail running, cycling, inline skating, blues harmonica/guitar, Arduino/robotics.

    Favorite thing about Blenman-Elm: It’s walking/running/skating/biking distance to so much, but still low key.

  • Patrice Lange

    SECRETARY

    About: I was born in West Virginia and spent 30 years in Akron, Ohio. I always wanted to live in the southwest and now I live in Tucson along with 2 sisters and my son’s family.

    Sector or Cross Streets: Southeast sector at Drachman and Sawtelle.

    Trade/Occupation:  Retired health care executive.

    Free-time activities:  stitching, hiking and making art.

    Favorite thing about Blenman Elm:  all the neighbors I have met working in the home tour and other BENA events.

  • Jim Malusa

    TREASURER

    About: After graduating in the top 80% of the class of 1975 from Tucson's Catalina High School, I worked as fry-vat lid opener at Kentucky Fried Chicken, steel bender at A&J Sheet Metal, and deconstructionist at Cro-Magnon Demolition. Thus motivated, I enrolled at the University of Arizona, which eventually granted me a degree in botany. I retired from my position at the U of A in 2023 and joined the BENA board as treasurer in January 2025. I'm the father of Rosita (aged 25) and Rudy (28), husband of Sonya (63), and keeper of a red brick house (‘76) on Waverly Street

    Sector or Cross Streets: Waverly & Forgeus

    Favorite thing about Blenman Elm: I have terrific neighbors and I can ride my bicycle to everything I desire.

Members at Large

Leo Burhart
Steven Farley – Honorary
Axel Golden
Alex Lynch
Elyssa Mays
Steve Morrison
Miriam Pattison
Jessica Radford and Graham Ludewig
Alice Roe – Emeritus
Joe Spitale
Lori and Carlos Tapin

Hope you will join us!

The Blenman Elm Neighborhood Association (BENA) holds board meetings at 7:00 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month, from September through June. Guests are welcome to attend. Most meetings are held at the Arizona Inn, but check our Events page to confirm the location.

The November meeting is a neighborhood-wide annual meeting, where you’ll meet many of your neighbors and a program of general interest will be presented.

Join the Board