David (Sante) Ancona, age 62, of San Diego, passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 surrounded by his loving family. David suffered a heart attack about one month prior, which led to multiple hospitalizations and complications, including suspected lung cancer.

David was born on February 10, 1961 to John and Jean Ancona in Fulton, New York. His given name was Sante, a family name, and friends and family called him Sandy. He had two older brothers, Marty and Johnny, and one younger brother, Jay. The Ancona family moved from Fulton when the youngest boys were in elementary school. The family moved frequently, with the boys attending multiple schools over the years. Upon entering one of those new elementary schools, “Sandy” wanted to have a more commonplace name and enrolled himself as “David” Ancona, a name he kept ever since.

David worked in several of the Ancona family-owned game rooms and spent most of his career working as a manager at restaurants including Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlor, where he met his wife Robin in 1989. David later worked for the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) as the recruitment manager for the Women’s Health Initiative, a medical study. From 1996 to 1997, David worked as the business manager for Starlight Musical Theater in Balboa Park. In later years David owned a small business supplying auto parts to local mechanics.

Dave wouldn’t have described himself as an animal lover, but his kindness toward the four-legged friends said otherwise. While David never sought to increase the family with more pets, any animals brought into the fold flocked to him as their new best friend. He loved to spoil them with his cooking. As his pug, Oso, began to age, Dave would take him out for walks in a stroller.

In his younger years, Dave enjoyed boating and fishing, and all other benefits of living near the coast. In recent years, he enjoyed walking with Robin at the local marina. Dave also loved listening to music and discovering new musical artists to follow. He enjoyed researching how bands came up with their names and he put together a list titled "The Origin of Band Names" on the Rate Your Music website: 

https://rateyourmusic.com/lis…

David is predeceased by his parents, John and Jean Ancona, his sister-in-law, Nancie Ancona, and his niece Nicole Ancona.

David is survived by Robin, his wife of 32 years and their three children Hayley Ancona, Trevor Ancona, and Katelyn Ancona as well as his son Toby Hanna (wife Brooke Hanna) and grandchildren Kylie Hanna and Jace Hanna. David is also survived by his brothers, Martin Ancona, John Ancona, and Jay Ancona (wife Zonia Ancona) and his nieces and nephews: Sam, Christina, Aubrey, Jacky, and Jeanne. He is also survived by his father-in-law, Richard Hensgen, and his brother-in-law, Rick Hensgen. David always acknowledged that family is more than genetics and also considered Kim and Jessica Stevenson, Joyner Cruz, and Alex Montgomery to be part of his family.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 11, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. at the Marina Village Conference Center: 1936 Quivera Way, San Diego, CA 92109 in the Anchor Room.

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