In Their Names
David McDonald ’85 supports student scholarships and the UCSB Library
One day in the future, students who receive one of four scholarships created by David McDonald ’85 will be able to read stories about his family’s lives.
“There will be one for my grandmother, one for me, and one for each of my parents. My father passed away in 2011; my mother is going strong at 90. They’ve been the most important people in my life, and I wanted to create scholarships to honor them,” said David.
David tailored each named scholarship to reflect that person’s life experience, which he hopes recipients will share. His bequest will endow these scholarships, ensuring financial support in perpetuity.
David’s father, Mac, grew up abroad in a military family. Just before World War II, he was evacuated from China and the Philippines along with his mother and sister. Mac served as a Navy Medical Corpsman during the Korean War before attending college, earning a criminology degree from UC Berkeley while working nights as a Walnut Creek police officer. He went on to a 30-year teaching career.
Jan, David’s mother, grew up in a middle-class family in Oakland during the Great Depression. She graduated from UC Berkeley in 1958 with a degree in social services. For over 40 years, she helped individuals and families as a foster care social worker in Contra Costa County, while at the same time taking care of her own family.
While his parents worked, David and his grandmother, Josephine, would explore the city in pursuit of their passions. They would watch planes at the airport, root for the Oakland A’s baseball team, and visit the courts. Later, at home, David would play judge — an early hint of his career in law.
“My grandmother would be honored to learn that a scholarship in her name will help a student realize his or her academic goals,” said David. “She had only a sixth-grade education. She worked as a cafeteria worker in the Oakland school system and was the sweetest person you could meet.” Josephine attended David’s graduation from UC Santa Barbara in 1985 and the University of San Francisco law school in 1989.
Now retired from a career of civil litigation, David serves as a Judge Pro Tem in the California Superior Courts, where he adjudicates matters with people from all backgrounds.
“I want to keep the memory of my time, my parents, and my grandmother alive through something lasting, rather than a one-time gift. College is much more expensive now than when I attended. Now, students face high housing and living costs,” said David.
“Generous gifts like David’s strengthen the connection between alumni and students, and they inspire future Gauchos to give back. Our alumni community makes it possible for students to focus on their education, worry less about financial pressures, and feel supported by those who came before them,” said Samantha Putnam, executive director of UCSB Alumni.
Some of David’s happiest days were spent at UC Santa Barbara. He recalls the serene campus and the salty air, feeling deep contentment as he walked to Campbell Hall for class. In addition to the four scholarships, David’s bequest will create an endowment to support the UCSB Library, which was his second home while he lived on the Mesa in Santa Barbara.
In honoring his relatives, David has built a bridge from his family’s past to countless students’ futures.
Published November 2025
I want to keep the memory of my time, my parents, and my grandmother alive through something lasting, rather than a one-time gift. College is much more expensive now than when I attended.
David McDonald '85
