Resident David Morena was remembered by City Council members.
Castellammare resident David Morena, who passed away on January 7, was remembered at a L.A. City Council meeting on January 20. David was one of the key members who founded the Pacific Palisades Task Force on Homelessness Board of Directors. He served as its first treasurer and corporate secretary and spearheaded the formation of bylaws and incorporating PPTFH as a nonprofit.
Councilmember Traci Park had a photo and the following information posted on a screen in City Hall, as it was read to the Councilmembers, staff and the public:
David Morena
It is with a heavy heart, that we announce the passing of David Joseph Morena.
David was born on July 10, 1945, to Italian immigrants, Joseph and Lena, in San Francisco. He moved to Santa Monica in the 1980s where he raised his two sons.
David received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics at the University of Santa Clara in 1967 and a master’s degree 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, pension funds, and severance packages for the employees, always working in their best interests.
He met his wife, Kim, while she was doing field work for UCLA. She was assigned to meet with human resource directors to encourage them to use family services of Santa Monica counseling for employees. David gave her the contract and they began dating.
The couple married in 1996 and moved to Pacific Palisades 24 years ago.
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 (PPTFH).
Ever since PPTFH began conducting the Point in Time Homeless Count, David and Kim served as site coordinators.
David was also part of a group that won the Pride of the Palisades award from the Palisades Community Council. This particular award is given under extraordinary circumstances and was present to David for his efforts to provide solutions for the homeless crisis in the Palisades.
He is deeply missed by his family whom he loved so well, and by his community, which he dutifully served.
David Joseph Morena passed away of cancer at his Castellammare home on January 7. He was 77 years old.
May he rest in peace.
(Editor’s note: PPTFH is dedicating Wednesday’s LAHSA Annual Count to the honor of Dave Morena and will name the count “David’s Count.”)