Longtime reporter and former Valley Sun associate editor Don Mazen dies at 86

Don Mazen, a longtime news reporter and former associate editor of the La Cañada Valley Sun who also wrote columns for the Foothill Leader and the La Cañada Flintridge Outlook, died Feb. 21 of cancer, according his family. He was 86.

The Glendale resident, who in retirement penned three books, was known for his interest in politics — often submitting letters to the editor to express his views — and for his desire to share his interest in local history with others.

“I am sorry to see him go,” said Melissa Patton, executive director of Lanterman House museum, which sells in its visitor’s center two of his titles, “The History of La Cañada Flintridge” and “Fond, Lasting Remembrances of La Cañada Flintridge.”

Patton said Mazen’s most significant contribution was in documenting, primarily through his newspaper articles and columns, the recent history and current events of La Cañada. “This is something so important that so few do. No one will understand anything 100 years from now if the events and important movers of yesterday and today are not documented in some way,” she said.

Mazen began working in the newspaper industry as a copy boy and cub reporter at the Los Angeles Mirror. In 1958 he was hired as a reporter-photographer by former Valley Sun publisher Joe DuPlain. He remained with the La Cañada publication and increased his duties there, later taking on the assignment of associate editor.

“When I first came to the Valley Sun 30-some years ago, Don Mazen was the only other writer besides Joe DuPlain,” society columnist Jane Napier Neely recalled this week. “Don quickly took on the role as my mentor as he carefully guided me along the path of journalism. It was quickly evident that Don truly loved his job and took the reporting of La Cañada news very seriously. He was a reporter in every sense of the word and he leaves a proud legacy.”

Mazen left the Valley Sun in 1997 and began writing columns for the Foothill Leader, then a publication of Times Community News. In 2000, Mazen began writing a column for the Outlook, and later produced occasional articles for the Valley Sun until he retired permanently.

During his retirement, Mazen enjoyed participating in senior programs offered by Glendale Community College. In 2009, he joined the Vanguardians, a Glendale political watchdog organization.

Mazen is survived by a son, Brian; a sister, Margaret Dees and four grandchildren. He was predeceased by son Kevin.

At his request, no services will be held.