Longtime Glendale physician dies at 78

Josh Kleinbaum

Dr. David L. McAninch, a longtime Glendale physician who practiced

obstetrics and gynecology, died Sunday after suffering an aortic

aneurysm. He was 78.

McAninch was born in Pennsylvania and graduated from Wooster

College in Ohio before attending the University of Pittsburgh’s

medical school. He moved to Glendale in 1955, and he served on the

staffs of Glendale Adventist Medical Center and Glendale Memorial

Hospital for more than 49 years.

“He delivered over 6,000 babies here,” his wife, Georgia McAninch,

said. “Every time we meet someone, they’d say, ‘You delivered my

baby.’ Now, those babies are grown, of course.”

McAninch retired two years ago, but appeared to be in good health

before the aneurysm. He had planned to participate in Sunday’s

Acura/L.A. Bike Tour, preceding the Los Angeles Marathon, and had a

ski trip planned for next weekend. He would have turned 79 on

Tuesday, and shared his birthday with his wife.

“Right now, we’ve got condolences cards and birthday cards,”

Georgia McAninch said. “It’s kind of a strange moment.”

Patients remembered McAn- inch as a caring physician who made them

his top priority. Kelley Alexander, an executive secretary for the

city and one of McAninch’s former patients, said the doctor helped

her after the birth of her oldest son.

“I was young at the time,” Alexander said. “Financially, it was

very difficult on me. It didn’t matter to him whether I made payments

on time. He cared about me and my baby.”

McAninch is survived by Georgia, who was the Glendale Unified

School District’s director of special education and child

development; sons David, John and Roger; daughter Kyle; sister

Elizabeth Masquelier; a niece and nephew; and 10 grandchildren.

The family will have a memorial service at 10 a.m. Saturday at the

First United Methodist Church, 134 N. Kenwood St., with lunch at the

Oakmont Country Club following the service. In lieu of flowers,

contributions can be made to the Glendale Community Foundation’s

Newman McAninch Family Fund, P.O. Box 313, Glendale, CA 91209.