We Are Venice Magazine: 4th Edition by BGCV BGCV Magazine | Page 42

David Charles Mandell
By Faye I. Mandell, L.C.S.W.
avid Charles Mandell was born
in Kansas City, Missouri on No-
vember 20, 1942. He and his
parents relocated to San Diego
when David was fourteen. His
parents, Jack and Irene, had in-
stilled in David their belief in
helping and uplifting those less
fortunate. David valued this belief, and
it would affect him profoundly for the
rest of his life.
It affected him while attending
Mission Bay High School. While there,
he became interested in working with
disadvantaged youth at the local Boys’
Club. David decided to pursue Boys’
Club work, finding it rewarding and
challenging. Shortly after completing
college, he rose in the ranks to be-
come the Executive Director of the El
Centro Boys’ Club.’ In later years,
Dave shared memories about this club
that was literally separated along racial
and socio-economic lines by a train
track. As the new Director, Dave set
about advertising the club’s programs
and activities on both sides of the
tracks. David stated that this is the El
Centro Boys’ Club to serve all of the
boys of the city. Eventually, the result
was integration. Dave said the he felt
good witnessing all the boys interact-
ing and getting along. His determina-
tion and perseverance paid off.
D
40
After a few
years at this Club,
David was of-
fered and de-
cided to accept
the position as
the first Execu-
tive Director of
the not yet fully
operational Boys’
Club of Venice.
He was one of
the founders in
that he helped to
establish, coordi-
nate, and imple-
Arielle Mandell (left), 2017 Scholarship Recipients, and
Faye Mandell (right)
ment all facets
and phases of the
This further frustrated Dave. Little did
Club. Through Dave’s motivation,
he know then that two sisters had se-
commitment, and skilled leadership,
cretly crossed pass the fence and were
the Club thrived.
eagerly participating in all the Boys’
As David had experienced discon-
Club of Venice had to offer. They were
tent when first entering a segregated
the Gallagher sisters, ages 8 and 10.
El Centro Club, he began to feel this
Cathy Gallagher Ramirez recently re-
same discontent as he witnessed the
counted the following:
boys at the Club enjoying the many
“Our mom was working or other-
programs and activities that the Club
wise occupied, and needed some-
offered, while the girls – oftentimes
where for us to go during the day,
the boys’ sisters – stood on the outside
especially the summers We were very
of the then cyclone fence and peered
poor. We saw the club and wanted to
in with disappointed, frustrated looks.
attend. Mom knew that it only al-
At that time, it appeared that the Boys’
lowed boys, so we became ‘boys’.
Club of America was entrenched in its
decision to keep all clubs for boys only. Mom cut our hair, and we wore over-
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