David C. Copley | |
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| Born | David Casey Hunt (1952-01-31)January 31, 1952 |
| Died | November 20, 2012(2012-11-20) (aged 60) |
| Education | BA (Business Administration),Menlo College, 1975 |
| Employer | Copley Press |
| Known for | newspaper publisher, philanthropist |
| Title | President ofCopley Press |
| Term | 1988–2012 |
| Predecessor | Helen K. Copley |
| Parents |
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David C. Copley (January 31, 1952 – November 20, 2012) was an American publishing heir, on the board of theCopley Press for over thirty years, becoming president and owner, as well as publisher of theSan Diego Union-Tribune. He was a noted philanthropist.
Copley was born as David Hunt inSan Diego in 1952, the son ofHelen K. Copley. He went to boarding school atCanterbury School, graduating in 1970. In 1988, the school dedicatedDavid Casey Copley Library is his honor. He went on to attain a BA in Business Administration fromMenlo College in 1975.[1]
His mother worked forJames Copley, the owner ofCopley Press, as secretary, marrying him in 1965. On her husband's death she became owner of the Copley Press chain of some 20newspapers and a wire service, theCopley News Service. David Copley was adopted by James Copley two months after the wedding.[2][3]
Copley joined the board of directors of Copley Press in 1975, becoming senior vice president and assistant to the president in 1984. In 1988, he became president of Copley Press and in 1997 he became publisher of theSan Diego Union-Tribune. During his tenure as publisher, the U-T won twoPulitzer Prizes: one was in 2006 for its role in uncovering theDuke Cunningham bribery scandal; the other was in 2009 for the work of editorial cartoonistSteve Breen. In 2007/2008, the paper also won theCalifornia Newspaper Publishers Association'sBest in the State award. In May 2009 theSan Diego Union-Tribune was sold to aBeverly Hills investment firm.
Until his death a resident of theSan Diego neighborhood ofLa Jolla, California, Copley had been named inForbes Magazine's 2005list of the 400 richest Americans and according toForbes magazine was abillionaire.[4]
After hisheart transplant there in June 2005, Copley donated a reported $5 million toSharp Healthcare, operator ofSharp Memorial Hospital.,[5] allowing the founding of the David C. Copley Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center.[2]
Copley was a noted sponsor of the arts, both personally and through theJames S. Copley Foundation, including theOld Globe Theatre andMuseum of Photographic Arts inBalboa Park, San Diego, and theLa Jolla Playhouse. He supported theMuseum of Contemporary Art both financially and on the board, leading to the establishment of The David C. Copley Chair and the David C. Copley Building, and from 2011 until his death he served as President of the Board of Trustees of the museum. He established The David C. Copley Center for the Study of Costume Design atUCLA with a $6 million grant in 2008.[6][7] He also gave to animal shelters in San Diego and Escondido,[8] as well as the San Diego Crew Classic and the new downtown library.[9]
Copley was an avid collector of contemporary art, which included a world class collection byChristo, as well as pieces byAndy Warhol,John Baldessari, andDavid Hockney.[10] He also enjoyed the theatre and was a Tony-winning producer of the 2008 Broadway musicalMemphis, directed by theLa Jolla Playhouse artistic directorChristopher Ashley.
Copley was a motoring enthusiast, and collector of classic cars. His collection included anAston Martin, aPorsche, aCadillac, and aMaybach. Between 1986 and 2002, he was arrested three times for drunk driving. After his arrest in 1989, he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two days in jail, a $939 fine, and five years' probation.[11][12][13]
He was also a keen sailor, and owned aHobie catamaran and the 50mDelta Marine motor-yachtHappy Days.[14][15]
Copley died on November 20, 2012, from an apparent heart attack, while driving hisAston Martin, about a mile from home in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego. Police and fire crews on the scene attempted CPR, and Copley was taken to nearby Scripps Memorial Hospital. Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful, likely due to underlying cardiac issues.[16][17][18][19][20] He had been the recipient of aheart transplant in June 2005.
An unprecedented gift of $6 million to the school from newspaper publisher and philanthropist David C. Copley last June supported the establishment of both the chair and the Center, which will further scholarship in the field through research, coursework and a program to bring in leading professionals as visiting faculty.
