Obituary of David Kenneth McClure

David Kenneth McClure passed away at home with his family by his side on Wed. April 10th after a valiant battle with cancer. He touched many, many lives with his gentle spirit and positive outlook on life. Dave was born in Sacramento and attended Cabrillo College and graduated from Cal Berkeley with a degree in Nuclear Engineering. (Go Bears!) He worked briefly with the Bechtel Corp. as a nuclear engineer. Dave decided that he wanted to move back to his beloved Santa Cruz in 1978 where he started his own successful construction company. Dave shared his vast construction experience while volunteering for the local Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, and served as both a Board member and volunteer construction supervisor for over twelve years. For many years he has proved to be a strong advocate for decent affordable housing in Santa Cruz County. Dave was very proud of his civic service involvement with groups like the Elks, Moose, and particularly - the Santa Cruz Rotary Club. As a Paul Harris Fellow, Dave contributed tirelessly to the efforts to finally eradicate polio from the face of the earth. Dave also contributed many hours of his valuable time and energy to the Santa Cruz Aids Project. Examples of other community projects Dave helped to spearhead are as follows: Helped restore the Kirby House on Jordan Street, joined other contractors to stabilize the Scotts Valley High School Football Field, and he received a SCOPE Award for his Lighthouse Avenue project. Dave also helped out local Little League teams for over ten years. As a result of all the incredible contributions that Dave has unselfishly provided our community over the last 40+ years, he was nominated for the prestigious Jefferson Award for community service in 2010. In whatever spare time Dave had left over he thoroughly enjoyed fishing with his old "geezer" buddies up in Alaska, he also loved to putt around a golf course now and then, and he had a special passion and interest in restoring vintage British automobiles. Dave is survived by his loving wife Rianda, devoted children Jesse, Jeff and Robbie, his father Cole McClure of San Carlos, sister Trish Ballard of Menlo Park, brothers Bob McClure of Houston, and Scott McClure and Kevin McClure of San Jose, in-law family and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Alice McClure Burt. Friends and family are invited to a memorial service to commemorate and celebrate Dave's incredible life on Friday, April 19th, 1:30 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 435 Monterey Ave., Capitola. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Dave's honor to the Santa Cruz Rotary Club Foundation, PO Box 497, Santa Cruz, CA 95061; Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Dr., Scotts Valley, CA 95066 or Habitat for Humanity, 1007 Cedar St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060. The family would like to thank Dr. Michael Yen, Dr. Neal of Stanford Hospital and Hospice of Santa Cruz County for their compassionate care for Dave and the loving support for the family.