David C. Copley
David C. Copley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 January 1952 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Died | 20 November 2012 (aged 60) La Jolla, San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Publishing heir, publisher, philanthropist |
| Years active | 1975–2012 |
| Known for | President and publisher of the San Diego Union-Tribune; philanthropy |
David C. Copley (January 31, 1952 – November 20, 2012) was an American publishing heir who played a pivotal role at Copley Press for more than three decades, ultimately becoming the president, proprietor, and publisher of the San Diego Union-Tribune. He was also widely recognized for his philanthropic efforts.
Early life
Born as David Hunt in San Diego in 1952 to Helen K. Copley, he completed his education at Canterbury School in 1970, an institution that later honored him by naming the David Casey Copley Library. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Menlo College in 1975.
In 1965, his mother wed James Copley, the owner of Copley Press. Upon James’s passing, Helen inherited ownership of the Copley Press newspaper group, which encompassed roughly 20 publications and the Copley News Service. Shortly after their marriage, James formally adopted David.
Ownership of Copley Press
In 1975, Copley became a member of the board of directors at Copley Press. By 1984, he advanced to senior vice president and assistant to the president. He was appointed president in 1988 and took on the role of publisher for the San Diego Union-Tribune in 1997. During his tenure, the newspaper earned two Pulitzer Prize awards: one in 2006 for exposing the Duke Cunningham bribery case and another in 2009 recognizing editorial cartoonist Steve Breen. Additionally, it was honored with the California Newspaper Publishers Association’s Best in the State accolade for 2007/2008. In May 2009, ownership of the San Diego Union-Tribune transferred to an investment company based in Beverly Hills.
Philanthropy
Up until his passing, Copley lived in San Diego’s La Jolla community and was listed as a billionaire on Forbes Magazine’s 2005 ranking of America’s wealthiest individuals. Following a heart transplant procedure in June 2005, he contributed $5 million to Sharp Healthcare, facilitating the establishment of the David C. Copley Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center.
As a devoted supporter of the arts, he donated both personally and through the James S. Copley Foundation to organizations such as the Old Globe Theatre, Museum of Photographic Arts, La Jolla Playhouse, and Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. He held the position of President of the Board of Trustees at the latter institution from 2011 until his death. In 2008, he endowed The David C. Copley Center for the Study of Costume Design at UCLA with a $6 million gift. His charitable activities also extended to animal shelters located in San Diego and Escondido, alongside local projects including the San Diego Crew Classic and downtown library initiatives.
Interests
Copley was passionate about collecting contemporary art, owning significant pieces by artists such as Christo, Andy Warhol, John Baldessari, and David Hockney. He also produced the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Memphis in 2008, directed by Christopher Ashley from La Jolla Playhouse.
A car enthusiast with a penchant for classic vehicles, his collection featured brands like Aston Martin, Porsche, Cadillac, and Maybach. Between 1986 and 2002, he encountered three arrests related to drunk driving; after a conviction in 1989, he served a two-day jail sentence and paid fines.
Furthermore, Copley enjoyed sailing and owned both a Hobie catamaran and the 50-meter Delta Marine motor yacht named Happy Days.
Death
On November 20, 2012, Copley passed away from what appeared to be a heart attack while operating his Aston Martin close to his residence in La Jolla, San Diego. Emergency personnel administered CPR and transported him to Scripps Memorial Hospital; however, efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, likely as a result of preexisting heart conditions. He had previously received a heart transplant in June 2005.