Dave McNary ’74 was a prolific writer, a loving husband, a mentor, and a part of our Bruin family. We lost Dave on Dec. 26, a week after he suffered a stroke. His sudden passing was a shock to many and was chronicled, along with his life and achievements, in the Los Angeles Times, the Daily Bruin and in his professional home of more than 20 years, Variety. Dave covered Hollywood, including labor and union issues, for decades, churning out thousands of stories. When the Daily Bruin Alumni Network was just getting off the ground, Dave jumped at the chance to join the board and give back to current students.
His classmate and friend of more than 50 years, Ken Peterson ’74, shares this tribute:
I met Dave when he was learning to become a newspaper reporter – the craft that sustained his working life for nearly half a century. His hallmark was the ability to get the story, get it right and crank it out in record time. He was a prodigious producer of news copy, from the DB through his first job at the now-defunct Yuba City Daily Independent Herald, to wire services (City News, UPI), and dailies (L.A. Daily News, Pasadena Star News and Variety, where he was a film reporter for more than 20 years).
But Dave’s life was always about so much more than work. He was a Boy Scout who became an Eagle Scout. During the Wooden Years at UCLA, he traveled to EVERY Final Four in which they competed. When he returned to Spain after college, he ran with the bulls at Pamplona. He was a lifelong San Francisco Giants fan. He was a high school actor who remained on stage through three decades of hosting and organizing a weekly comedy showcase at The Ice House in Pasadena. He nurtured and supported aspiring comics as he nurtured and supported young journalists with whom he worked. He loved his dogs, and he was madly in love with his wife, public radio journalist Sharon McNary.
You always want more: another laugh, another outburst, another smile, another moment. We were blessed with so many throughout Dave’s life.
The State of The Bruin
The Daily Bruin is now on Apple News! The news distribution platform has been reaching out to student newspapers in order to draw in a younger audience, said Liz Ketcham, the Daily Bruin’s digital managing editor. Liz was the driving force behind this project and communicated with Apple News representatives to talk about the opportunity.
To make sure Bruin staffers aren’t entering the job hunt unaided, Sara Salam ’10 and Maryia Krivoruchko ’11 hosted a career-branding workshop Feb. 9, where they showed attendees how to showcase their skills more powerfully on their résumé and cover letter. The interactive workshop focused on the question: “What do hiring managers and/or recruiters want to/need to/should know about me?” Staffers asked questions about résumé formatting, internal referrals and applicant tracking systems. Watch the panel here.
“I found the career branding workshop interesting because I’m thinking of pursuing a career in recruiting,” said Daily Bruin Photo Editor Kanishka Mehra. “I also really enjoyed hearing them answer questions that everyone has but doesn’t get an opportunity to ask.”
If you’d like to host a workshop to help current students, let us know.
Love at the Daily Bruin
By Kari Lau
While on a getaway to Bodega Bay in December, Mackenzie Possee ’18 laughed when she saw her boyfriend, Nathan Smith Exp.’21, put on the only nice shirt he had packed. She knew he was about to propose. She put on her best shirt, too. Then, she said yes.
Mackenzie, a former Daily Bruin Editor in Chief, met Nathan when he was applying to be online editor for The Bruin. Nathan is currently a fifth-year computer science student. She didn't hire him for the job, but she did select him to be an assistant online editor – and most recently, her soon-to-be husband. When the proposal happened, it was a beautiful moment shared between just the two of them, Mackenzie said.
About 436 miles away from their engagement stands Kerckhoff Hall, where their story began. The first time they met each other was at Nathan's online editor interview. Mackenzie thought he was cute. Her roommate agreed and said she should hire him. But cuteness can only go so far, Mackenzie joked. Nothing happened between them then. It wasn't until the 2017 editor’s retreat in Lake Arrowhead, when they would leave as boyfriend and girlfriend, that their relationship began.
At the retreat they got to learn more about each other. One shared interest they bonded over was Legos. Nathan said he remembers Mackenzie telling him she had an unopened box of the Disney princess Lego set at her house. He added that he enjoyed chatting with Mackenzie then. Nathan still enjoys talking to her. To that, Mackenzie, an NFL editor at CBS Sports, said she’s glad. “You’re stuck with me now,” she joked, as the two laughed.
If you met your significant other when you were both staffers at the Daily Bruin, and you would like to share your story on this newsletter, please fill out this form!
Bruin Swag
Is your last Daily Bruin T-shirt or sweatshirt frayed and hanging by a thread in the back of your closet? Upgrade your DB style — while supporting the current staff — by ordering the Bruin’s latest quarter-zip sweatshirt. Act fast; orders must be placed by the end of March.
If you’re interested in reading the Daily Bruin and helping current students, consider signing up to critique one day of the Daily Bruin’s online coverage. It doesn’t take long and is a fun way to reconnect. You’ll get a reminder email with more details the weekend before your slot.
The DBAN Board is looking for more alumni to join our ranks. Be a part of building a solid foundation for our network and improving upon our initiatives in giving, networking and mentoring. We are looking in particular for a new board member who can take over our social media platforms and help us keep the community engaged online. DBAN will only be as good as our collective effort as alumni volunteers -- so join us, reconnect and give a little something back to The Daily Bruin, fellow alumni and current staffers!
Please contact Board President Lawrence Ma with any questions, suggestions and expressions of interest.
Class Notes
Lee Goldberg ’84 just published his latest crime novel, “Bone Canyon.” The sixth movie in the MYSTERY 101 series, which he co-created with Robin Bernheim, finished production in Vancouver and is airing on Hallmark.
Frances Fernandes, the student media advisor from 1988 to 1998, is moving to Salisbury in the UK in May. “Don't weep,” she says. “We have four bedrooms in the new house and we love guests.”
We remember the passing of more members of the Daily Bruin family, and thanks to George Garrigues, M.A. ’70, for sharing these remembrances on Facebook:
Anne Stern Berkovitz ’47, J.D. '80, died Nov. 4, 2020, at age 94. Anne escaped Nazi Germany as a child and landed with her family in California. She wrote the Daily Bruin article on Aug. 17, 1945, which announced the end of World War II: "Many tears were openly or unnoticedly wiped away during the first realization that peace was finally returning...and that men in the services were coming home, safe." This Daily Bruin story chronicled her lifelong engagement with UCLA, including raising her family in Westwood and returning to campus at age 51 to earn her law degree.
Frances Madelyn Gold Greiff ’42 died in Hermosa Beach on Nov. 3, 2020, at age 99. According to her obituary, “Frances graduated from UCLA in 1942, where she spent much of her time at the Daily Bruin. Frances was a Red Cross social worker and helped found the N. L.A. County Regional Center. Frances loved nature and travel, and published many travel articles.”
Grover Heyler ’49, Bruin editor in spring 1949, died Jan. 19, 2021, at age 94 in his Brentwood home. One of his prized possessions, according to his obituary, was a collection of the editorials he had written for The Bruin. He became a lawyer.
Send Us Your News!
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