David Mark Kunzle

I am saddened to learn of David Kunzle's passing. Thirty seven years ago, when he and Marjoyrie married, I finished my dissertation, so I was his first Ph.D. student. With each paper I submitted David took time to carefully edit my work. In doing so he taught me how to write. David lived a high energy life, long and full: prodigious scholar, activist, athlete, actor. We mourn David's death.

David was my art history professor at UCLA in 1974. I had an instant crush on him. He was colorful , magical and full of life. I even brought my mother once to see him teach. She was taken by him as well. I had the opportunity to know him after I graduated for a short while. His intelligence was obvious, however, his light and youthful spirit were amazing. I have never forgotten him. I wish his wife and family ongoing sharing of his beautiful spirit.

David and I met in Salt Lake City, where David was giving an invited public presentation at the University of Utah. That year, 1990, I was a Fellow at the U of Utah Humanities Center, and naturally, as a former Brigadista who picked coffee for the Sandinistas in 1984, I attended David's lecture/slide show. After the lecture, David and I conversed briefly, then by mutual consent headed directly to the University tennis courts. I was impressed that David had shorts with him, and we played two sets. I lost. We stayed in touch and, in 1995, David invited me to tag along on his forthcoming trip to Nicaragua. I said, "of course," and together with David and the two major painters of the Mural School of Nicaragua, we all traveled in a rental car around the country: Estelí, Leon, Managua, and points in between. David was annoyed with me when I was unable to present a driver's license at a military checkpoint and negotiated cash payment of a "fine" in cordobas (about $15) to the officer who turned out to be flexible in this regard. We also restored a fading mural in Nicaragua, visited various artists, and toured Sergio Michilini's atelier (David's obituary photograph is taken against the backdrop of Michilini's great church interior, in which the historical Sandino is depicted as laboring to carry a heavy cross).

Subsequently, David and I traveled together in Cuba, Spain, New York, and California. He was a genius. Every second I spent with him ennobled me and made me smarter. Absolutely he was the one remarkable person I have known.

I was in the same group with David on a tour to Vietnam. He was outstanding. David came to all my films.
Always had some comment after the film. I also attended one of his Che Conferences. I bought one of his Che books. Also felt honored to be invited to his birthday at the peace center.

A fine tribute to a very good and truly multiply amazing man! I knew some of this history, but now I know so much more! In small and big ways, those close to him, and really our faltering political world, will dearly miss David Kunzle.

I send you belated condolences on David's passing. Although I hadn't seen him for a decade or more, he remained and remains a vivid part of my consciousness -- not only for his openness and principled determination, for his extraordinary generosity and devotion in taking over from Al, but for a certain grace that I have not encountered in anyone else. This will remain with me.
Simon Kenrick