David Ezequelle

1949 - 2025

David Ezequelle
01/19/1949 - 04/22/2025
David James Ezequelle had a remarkable ability to connect with everyone he met, driven by a sincere interest in getting to know them. He captivated all with fabulous stories from his life, complete with impressions. His Julia Child was classic.
From Woodstock attendee, right up front, to publisher of computer magazines at the advent of the personal computer, to internet entrepreneur in the early days of the dot-com boom then venture capitalist investing in technology companies, David was often at the center of the defining cultural events of his time. He died of cancer at his home in San Rafael, CA on April 22. He was 76.
David forged his own path through life. A Lotus sportscar mechanic, he headed to California for a job he was promised. Arriving, he learned the job wasn't there for a young man with shoulder-length hair. Undeterred, he opened his own co-op garage.
At the University of Connecticut, David designed his own year-long study abroad program, traveling through Europe to study art and literature, then south to study first-hand the emergence of democracies in post-colonial Africa. Along the way he picked grapefruit on a kibbutz, lived in African villages, scrambled during a regime change, and befriended the winner of a photography contest, who invited him to join the luxe photography safari he had won.
After college, he headed to New York City to become a documentary filmmaker, working as a cameraman and supporting himself by driving a night shift taxi – a defining experience that was the source of many stories.
David also met his first wife, Susan in New York. Soon they were heading to Maine, living in an old farmhouse they rebuilt and raising their young sons, Adam and Andre. It was working at a local magazine, Color Computer, that changed the trajectory of David's career. He didn't know it yet, but he'd found his métier.
Ziff Davis, a large New York-based publishing company, bought Color Computer, and moved David to California to head sales at their Apple II magazine, A+. From there, they moved him from publication to publication needing his leadership, until rewarding him with his dream job: Publisher of MacWeek. In the dot-com heyday, David transitioned from publisher to entrepreneur, leading internet startups, and ultimately becoming a venture partner at Alloy Ventures. He left a trail of business successes, with many proteges and associates who became close friends.
David found love twice in his life, moving to Marin with his current wife Brenda. He was always out in his garden, talking to the lizards and having conversations with the birds, who responded to his whistled calls. He was the instigator-in-chief for hikes, city walks, museum visits and performances in San Francisco, the city he loved so much, kayaking in Tomales Bay, and, of course, riding his motorcycles. For years he'd been the route planner for trips with his brother Jon and his motorcycle buddies. He knew all the twisty roads from Death Valley to Colorado and Canada.
An excellent cook and music lover, David gathered family and friends together around delicious meals, with his beloved jazz providing the soundtrack. His sense of humor, infectious smile, and delightful laugh kept energy high and everyone enjoying themselves. David was brilliant, kind, generous, big-hearted and just plain fun to be around. We miss him dearly.
David is survived by his wife, Brenda Ezequelle, his sons, Adam Whinston (Julie) and Andre Ezequelle, his former wife, Susan Ezequelle, his grandsons, Tae Han and Jae Sun Whinston, his siblings Richard, Jon (Mary) and Robin Ezequelle, his nieces and nephews, Lauren, Robert, Andrew, and Stephen Ezequelle, and his extended family, Emilio Spadola (Alexandra), Andrew Eisner, and Greg and Ellen Spector.
There will be a celebration of David's life on August 10 in San Rafael, CA. For more information contact Brenda at brendamcla@yahoo.com. If you'd like to honor his memory with a donation, please donate to your local food bank.