David Balch Mazza

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of David Balch Mazza of Miami, FL on May 6, 2024, at the age of 71, after a long battle with COPD.

Dave grew up in Lexington, MA. He loved sports and music, played little league baseball and was a skilled guitarist. In high school he played JV basketball, lettered in track & field, and was captain of the varsity soccer and baseball teams. Dave maintained his love of sports throughout his life. He played golf and skied, was an avid spectator of the Boston Celtics and the New England Patriots and watched golf tournaments on the weekends. Dave's passion for soccer and hard work earned him a soccer scholarship to Brown University where he graduated with a BA in Sociology. He then was accepted into Harvard Business School, where he excelled, earning his M.B.A.

In 1978, Dave began his career working for Russell Reynolds Associates in senior level recruitment, and then co-founded his own executive search firm, Mazza & Riley. In 1998, he co-founded Grove Street Advisors that focused on managing customized venture capital, private equity, and buyout portfolios for clients worldwide. In semi-retirement, he worked as a consultant helping companies to build management teams, boards of directors, identifying potential investors and refining company strategies.

Dave was deeply committed to young people and social change. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Perkins School for the Blind and then as Director of the non-profit youth community service organization, Do Something. Dave will be remembered for all the time he spent on the phone fostering relationships. He was an incredible listener and thoughtful advisor. He was a generous, loving, and caring person who would go out of his way to help someone however he could.

Dave leaves behind many friends, colleagues, and family but especially his most cherished loves of his life, his wife Catherine and dog Gable, his son Jake (Brianna), and their son Cooper, and his sister Cindy. Dave will be dearly missed. Interment at Cambridge Cemetery will be private. In Dave's honor, please consider a donation to:

The Chordoma Foundation PO Box 2127 Durham NC 27702

https://www.chordomafoundation.org/