Visitor killed after high winds tear roofing from Frank Lloyd Wright's Arizona home
A Brazilian university official visiting Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West in Scottsdale was struck by falling roof material during high winds, dying at the scene. The fatal incident prompted the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to close the UNESCO site to the public while authorities investigate. The victim, Rogério Renato Mateucci, 55, was in Arizona as a senior leader at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná and a member of the Marist Brothers; the university announced temporary campus closures and a memorial program. The event underscores the risks of severe weather at landmark sites and will likely influence ongoing safety and operational protocols at Taliesin West. The site remains closed with condolences issued to Mateucci’s family as investigations continue.
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Rogério Renato Mateucci, 55, a senior leader at the Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná and a brother of the Congregation of the Marist Brothers, was killed when a piece of plexiglass roofing struck him at Taliesin West on Oct. 16.
The roof debris was reportedly driven loose by high winds in the area around Scottsdale, while nearby wind gusts at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport reached up to 37 mph on that day.
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation officials stated the Taliesin West site is closed to the public until further notice as police investigate the incident, and no additional details are being released at this time.
Mateucci was touring the historic desert home of Frank Lloyd Wright, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and National Historic Landmark, and commonly hosts more than 100,000 visitors annually.
The Brazilian university announced campus disruptions in response to the tragedy, with classes canceled at three campuses and the administrative office closed for a memorial period; a funeral is pending Mateucci’s arrival in Brazil.
A memorial mass was held on Oct. 16-17, and the university indicated further arrangements would be made after the body’s arrival home, reflecting the impact of the loss on colleagues and students.
authorities have not disclosed further details as the investigation continues, and the foundation offered condolences to Mateucci's family and loved ones on social media.