David (Dave) Lee Shurman, BHS 1980

David (Dave) Lee Shurman, BHS 1980

Former GCC football staff member dies

August 20, 2005 , Glendale News Press, Charles Rich

Dave Shurman, who recorded game film for the Glendale CommunityCollege football team for 11 years, died Wednesday at his Van Nuys home. He was 43.

Shurman had been suffering from a kidney ailment, family members said. Shurman, who graduated from Burbank High in 1980 before briefly attending Glendale College, filmed most of Glendale College's football contests from 1986 to 1997.

Born Aug. 16, 1962, in Los Angeles, Shurman managed the Burbank High baseball and boys' basketball teams from 1977-80. Shurman earned a spot on the Glendale College football program's staff, videotaping team practices and home and road contests. Under Glendale College football coaches Jim Sartoris and John Cicuto, Shurman's talents helped the coaching staff break down film in a timely fashion. "He was a true warrior who just amazed me," said Cicuto, who has coached the Vaquero program since 1989. "He's a special person in my life, and he overcame so much with a bad kidney and he did so in a valiant way.

"Dave never wanted anybody to feel sorry for him. "He had a tremendous amount of pride in his work for us." Cicuto said Shurman's work proved to be invaluable in allowing the Vaqueros to make the necessary adjustments for upcoming games. "His work was critical for us," Cicuto said. "He'd come in on a Sunday morning and view it, and then he'd ask my opinion on the filming.
"Another time, I was teaching a basketball class at night, and he came in and challenged the basketball players to a free-throw shooting contest. "I was just thinking about him because usually he would call me to get in to the college."

Peter Stone, Shurman's first cousin, said Shurman attended numerous sporting events around Los Angeles. Stone said Shurman attended many Los Angeles Dodgers games and enjoyed visiting Santa Anita Park in Arcadia. "He loved to go to the race track," said Stone, a Burbank resident. "He really loved basketball, and wasn't afraid of anything concerning his health."

Nicole Peterson, Shurman's younger sister, said Shurman was an ideal brother. "He was very witty," said Peterson, who played softball and basketball at Burbank High. "It was about what he could do for people. He went above and beyond the duties of a brother. "He had a lot of health problems and took it in stride, but he couldn't participate in any sports after his health had declined the past few years."

Survivors include his wife, Maribel Shurman of Van Nuys; his father, Clifford Shurman of Roseville; his mother, Barbara Bailey of Valencia; four sisters, Nicole Peterson of Stevenson Ranch, Carolyn Perez of Whittier and Sandy Villagran and Cheryl Owens of Sacramento; one brother, Chris Horn of Redmond, Ore.; four nieces and three nephews.

Peterson said public services for Shurman will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, 10621 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood.