UKRO mourns the loss of our wonderful friend, supporter, and long-time board member and Chief Financial Officer, Henry David, who passed away on November 8, 2021. A living-donor kidney transplant recipient and former dialysis patient, Henry understood the need for more concentrated research to help relieve the suffering of kidney patients throughout the world. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the scientific work in the labs at USC to perfect a synthetic kidney. We are sorry that Henry won’t see the results of these groundbreaking efforts, but we are grateful for his friendship and commitment to making life better for others. Henry was an integral part of our core team and the organization was greatly enhanced by his creative ideas and his willingness to work hard for the cause.
Henry was a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley and a thoughtful, loving, and supportive family man. A gifted entrepreneurial businessman, he began as an intern at Melco Wire Products in Glendale in 1961 and retired as President and CEO in 2000, when he closed the factory. In the intervening years, he also established Melco Trading Company, brokering commodities, and the Coronado Cement Company, importing shiploads of cement into San Diego. In 2000, Melco Engineering—which Henry continued to run—began operation as a virtual firm manufacturing tools for blood-bank donor rooms. He was a member of the Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO) and served on the board of directors of TRIO’s Ventura County West Valley Chapter.
Henry was one of a kind, a true gentleman, compassionate, generous, and full of hope and humor. We miss him already. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones.