David Fraser Berry

California attorney, former Wayne, NJ resident, David Fraser Berry, age 66, of Westwood, California, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 3, 2022, following a brief, but courageous, battle with lymphatic cancer, with his loving wife, Paula Berry by his side.

Dave was born in Neptune, New Jersey, on February 27, 1956, the eldest child of David W. and Marjorie (Young) Berry. He grew up in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, NJ, where he was lucky enough to meet a loyal group of lifelong friends. At age 6, Dave went to his first New York Mets game at the Polo Grounds, beginning an enduring passion for both the Mets and baseball. Dave, who had only seen the Mets on a black-and-white television, was astonished to learn that the field was actually green. After absorbing that critical insight, his encyclopedic knowledge of the game grew to where it was second to none. Dave loved all sports and played on the Wayne Valley High School Basketball team in the early 1970s.

After earning a B.A. in history from Rutgers College, Dave's adventurous spirit led him on an August 1980 cross country journey in a Ford Torino. He built his life in California, where he graduated from the USC Gould School of Law in 1983 and later met his wife Paula. He had a highly successful law practice, working for nearly thirty years at Nagler & Associates. He handled complex civil litigation cases that brought him to courts across the country and around the world. Dave and Paula enjoyed traveling, faithfully visiting family and friends near and far.

An Italian vacation in the 1990s ignited their love of exploring foreign destinations. Over his lifetime, Dave would visit every active Major League Baseball park in the United States. He was especially proud of his vast sports memorabilia collection, curated over a period of fifty years.

Dave is survived by his beloved wife, Paula; mother, Marjorie, and sister, Susan, of Kendall Park, NJ; brother, Thomas of Bonita Springs, FL; and two nieces and two nephews.

A private memorial was held in Burbank, CA and another memorial will be in New Jersey at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lupus Foundation of America https://support.lupus.org/site/TR/Tributes/General?px=2805254&pg=personal&fr_id=1685

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.GatesKingsley.com for the Berry family.