Journalist, Pasadena Resident Dave McNary Dead at 69

Pasadena resident and journalist Dave McNary died on Saturday in his home after suffering complications due to a stroke.

He was 69.

McNary had been hospitalized since Dec. 19, according to an article in Variety that cited his wife, Sharon McNary, a journalist at KPCC, 89.3 FM.

McNary joined Variety in 1999 and covered the film industry and labor.

McNary previously worked at the Pasadena Star-News, the Los Angeles Daily News and United Press International (UPI).

Born in Berkeley, McNary, the oldest of five children, grew up in San Rafael and Woodland. His family eventually moved to Barcelona, Spain where McNary became fluent in Spanish.

According to Variety, he was involved in the Boy Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

McNary wrote for his high school newspaper when his family moved back to California. He later attended UCLA and became editor of the Daily Bruin on his way to earning a bachelor’s degree in history.

He worked for the Yuba City Daily Independent Herald, and at City News Service (CNS).

McNary was a frequent patron of the Pasadena Playhouse 7 theater, and he hosted a comedy showcase at the Ice House. 

In addition to his wife Sharon, McNary is survived by his four sisters, Nancy McNary Leach, Barbara McNary Spindler, Jane McNary O’Meara, and Patti McNary.

The family requests that donations be made in McNary’s name to Pasadena Humane, with a request that it be converted to a no-kill animal shelter, or to the Daily Bruin Alumni Network for scholarships to support the next generation of journalists.