H. David Bright

1934-2025

Dave Bright, longtime Newport Beach resident and businessman, passed away peacefully at his home on November 8, 2025. Dave was 91 years old. Even near the end of his life, he would remark what a lucky man he was to have had such a wonderful life, family, and friends.

Dave was born in Columbus, Ohio and raised with his 3 sisters, Mary Ann, Joan (deceased) and Penny, by their mother, Mary Bright. Mary was a single mom, strong and loving, who worked two jobs to keep her family afloat. The economic hardships only served to make the family closer and Mary instilled in her children the enduring importance of faith, family, and hard work.

The day after graduating from St. Thomas Aquinas High School Dave joined the Air Force. He loved serving his country and considered making it a career, but his mother convinced him to go to college. That push set him on the path that would shape the rest of his life.

He attended Marquette University, graduating with a degree in Accounting. There he met and married his beautiful wife, Carol. While Dave was building his career in Public Accounting, their family grew rapidly. They had 4 children, Dave, Chris, Billy (deceased), and Kathy.

Dave started his career at Price Waterhouse in Chicago. He then moved to the corporate world working at DART Industries, Whittaker Corporation, and finally National Education Corporation in Newport Beach, CA.

Despite relocating the family to California, he stayed true to his Columbus, Ohio roots and was a fierce Ohio State Football fan, never missing a game. Go Bucks!

Sadly, Dave’s wife Carol died of cancer in 1981. Less than two years later Dave lost his youngest son Billy in a tragic car accident. It was a devastating chapter, but Dave’s strong Catholic faith and the support of family and friends sustained him. It enabled him to focus his energy on helping to build National Education Corporation into one of the most successful education and training companies in the country.

In 1986 Dave saw a young lady walking down the hallway at the office to a meeting. He eventually got her name and asked her out on a date. Cindy and Dave were married in 1987 and had a blessed life together. A life full of adventures with family and friends.

Dave is survived by his wife Cindy; children, David, Christopher (Kay), and Kathleen (Bright) Schoenbaum; grandchildren, Brandon, Liam, Carolann (Michael), Lexi, Lilly, Natasha, Isabella, Dane, and Ian.

A Funeral Mass will be held on November 21, 2025 at 11:30 AM at Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in Newport Beach. The family would like to thank Hoag Family Cancer Institute, Coraltree In-Home Care, and Hoag at Home Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Hoag Hospital Foundation: https://www.hoaghospitalfoundation.org/dave-bright-tribute.html

Please designate your gift to the Hoag Family Cancer Institute or Hoag at Home Hospice.