Obituary of David A. Mazza

David A. Mazza, beloved partner, friend, community activist, and artist, 65, of Portland, Oregon passed away on April 23, 2018 at home with his partner Marjorie Elliott at his side. Dave enlisted in the Navy after high school and served during the war in Vietnam. He made the most of his posts around the world and lived off his ship in the Philippines, visited Karachi, Pakistan, Kenya, Japan, and Hong Kong. At every port, he took the opportunity to explore the local culture and meet people. He was proud of his six years of Navy service. Dave used his GI benefits to earn his degree from Portland State while working full time. He pursued lifelong interests with majors in History and Political Science. He worked as a private investigator for a law firm, then transitioned to a career in journalism as editor of the Portland Alliance, and was grant writer for MCIP. In recent years, he pursued fine art as a landscape painter. Dave was deeply committed to progressive politics, workers and human rights, and all forms of social justice. He was a tireless voice for those unable to speak for themselves. He was co-host with JoAnn Hardesty of Voices from the Edge on KBOO radio for 10 years. He raised issues of local and national interest, had meaningful conversations with callers, and championed community voices. He often put himself in the path of contentious debate when defending the rights of others. He is survived by his partner of 26 years, Marjorie Elliott, and dozens of friends. Together, they enjoyed living in the Sellwood neighborhood, forming bonds with their neighbors and walking their dogs at the Willamette River and 1000 Acres. A celebration of Dave's life will be held at a future date. If you wish, you can make a donation to KBOO radio in Dave's name.