David Morena

David Joseph Morena passed away of cancer at his home on January 7. He was born on July 10, 1945. He left his wife of 26 years, Kim Clary, his two sons Brian (Veronica) and Greg (Yunnie), his daughter Kathryn, his stepson Todd Clary (Krystina), and 10 grandchildren.

David was born in San Francisco to Joseph and Lena, Italian immigrants. He had a sister, Mary Ann, who died of multiple sclerosis a few years ago. David moved to Santa Monica in the 1980s where he raised his two sons.

David and Kim married in 1996 and moved to Pacific Palisades 24 years ago.

They met when Kim was doing her field work for UCLA in social work at Santa Monica Family Services. She was assigned to meet with human resource directors at businesses in the area to sell them on using Family Services for counseling for their employees.

She got more than the contract from David, and they began dating.

David received his Bachelor of Science degree in physics at the University of Santa Clara in 1967 and his Master of Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University in 1993.

He worked as a human resource director for major companies throughout his business career. He was commended for setting up good health insurance plans, generous pension funds and severance packages for the employees, always working in their best interests.

David’s first and foremost love of his life was his family, and he was devoted to them. He never turned down a chance to attend any of his children’s or grandchildren’s activities, and always made himself available to babysit the grandkids.

While very ill in the hospital, a doctor asked him if he had any hobbies and he said, “my grandchildren.”

David was a faithful Catholic and lived his life in service to others. Along with Kim, he helped co-found the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness. Since PPTFH has been conducting the Point in Time Homeless Count, he and his wife Kim served as site coordinators. He was the president of the Castellammare Homeowners Association and served on their Architectural Committee for years.

He is deeply missed by his family, whom he loved so well, and by his community, which he dutifully served.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 11, at 11 a.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in the Palisades, with a reception to follow.

Please email Kim at kimjdave@msn.com for details if you wish to attend the reception. If you wish to make a donation in David’s name, please consider donating to PPTFH (pptfh.org) or California Wildlife Center in Malibu.