David P. Pell

David P. Pell passed away peacefully surrounded by family on November 21, 2025.

Dave was born on February 21, 1957 in Honolulu, Hawaii to his parents James & Judith Pell. The Pell family moved from the Hawaiian Islands to the Bay Area (with a quick stop in Eleria, OH), settling in Sunnyvale, CA where Dave and his brothers James Jr. & Gregory grew up. He attended Sunnyvale High School and played trumpet in the marching band. After graduating high school, Dave attended Foothill College in Los Altos, CA before moving to Santa Barbara in the early 80’s. He worked in the culinary & hospitality industries in Santa Barbara for the last 40 years, having positions locally at the Biltmore, Raytheon, Samarkand, Cottage & Sansum clinic.

Dave was very friendly and outgoing, sparking conversations with everyone and anyone. His biggest passion was music, DJ’ing for both his college radio station (KFJC 89.7FM at Foothill College) and a local Reggae station in the Santa Barbara area during the 80’s. He loved reggae & rock n’ roll music, going to every concert he could. Some of our best memories were seeing Van Halen, AC/DC, Steel Pulse & Aerosmith. He picked up golf when he lived in Palm Desert in the 80’s and fell in love with the game, passing that love of the sport down to his son Anthony when he was 4 years old. Another love of his was the Raiders, which he proudly represented in his daily life.

He recently got married to his longtime love Martha Gainey in August, with a large celebration of family and friends in town. The pictures and memories from that celebration will be a lasting memory in the lives of everyone who knew him best. Along with his two brothers, Dave is survived by his wife Martha, his son Anthony, daughter in law Lilly, granddaughter Remi and Martha’s daughter, Megan.