Newsroom – Page 3 – David Perry & Associates

8:8:8: Beijing Olympics

Written on August 8, 2025.

8:8:8: Beijing Olympics

The running of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Torch through our City on April 9, 2008 will live in San Francisco history as one of the most memorable live-TV experiences in many years. I personally was interviewed by more than two dozen media outlets, including foreign news and a one-on-one live interviews on CNN’s “The Situation Room” with Wolf Blitzer and various national/international TV / Radio outlets. I would like to share with you a note I received from Robert Fasulo, Chief of International Relations for the U.S. Olympic Committee

— David Perry

Dear David, I’m sure our communications team will have already expressed our thanks and gratitude for your excellent work on the torch, but I just returned from the meetings of the National Olympic Committees in Beijing, where many Olympic leaders followed the developments of the torch on CNN, and I wanted to let you know how much your well-articulated statements on camera were appreciated. Many Olympic officials approached me to congratulate us on the “city spokesperson” who spoke so well to CNN as the exciting events unfolded. So I just wanted to say my own word of thanks for representing with such dignity and confidence the city and our country.

In appreciation, Alfredo and were presented with an actual Olympic Torch: one of only a handful given in gratitude to members of the San Francisco team.

Daniel C. Berkowitz: March 24, 1959 — July 30, 2025

Written on August 6, 2025.

Daniel C. Berkowitz: March 24, 1959 — July 30, 2025

Daniel C. Berkowitz
March 24, 1959 — July 30, 2025

Daniel C. Berkowitz, a respected and beloved communications executive whose career spanned some of Silicon Valley’s most transformational decades, passed away on July 30, 2025. He died peacefully from a brain aneurysm secondary to a battle with sepsis at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon surrounded by loving family and friends. He was 66 years old.

Dan was born in New York City on March 24, 1959 and grew up in Willingboro, New Jersey. He graduated from Willingboro High School in 1977.

A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in English Literature, Dan brought a storyteller’s instinct into every newsroom conversation, product launch, and PR war room. His ability to craft a compelling narrative was matched only by his talent for nurturing young professionals and giving them a chance—often their first—in a competitive industry.

Dan’s career in corporate communications and analyst relations saw him lead global strategies for some of the most dynamic companies in enterprise software and technology. Dan’s first big break was as Senior PR Manager at Gupta Technologies — later renamed Centura — (1989-1994). Following that, he served as Director of Corporate Communications at Oracle Corp. (1995–1999), Senior Director of Corporate Communications at Keynote Systems (1999–2014), and held leadership roles at AppDynamics, Instart Logic, and Mendix. At Mendix, Dan helped shape the company’s global narrative through its acquisition by Siemens and beyond.

Whether working with massive global corporations or nimble startups, Dan approached every project with passion and pragmatism. He believed in elevating understanding and appreciation for a company’s disruptive and transformative technology among stakeholders, the media, and the analyst community. His hands-on leadership, sharp wit, and unwavering integrity left a lasting impact on countless colleagues and friends.

Dan moved to San Francisco in September 1984, driving across country with his partner Danilo Eduardo Andrade. In the Bay Area, Dan quickly established himself as a media professional and a respected and proudly out member of the LGBT community. On April 20, 1994 Dan lost Danilo to AIDS. Living with HIV for many years himself, Dan became an outspoken advocate and contributed to numerous charities supporting the cause, including in 2012 biking from San Francisco to Los Angeles in the AIDS LifeCycle benefit ride: a commemoration in memory of Danilo’s passing 18 years previous, the number 18 — חי in Hebrew meaning “life” — of special significance in Judaism. Dan moved to Ashland, Oregon in 2018.

Dan was the son of the late Lawrence Berkowitz and the late Shirley Berkowitz. He is survived by brother David, sister-in-law Laura, niece Abigail and nephew Benjamin, a host of beloved cousins and friends plus dozens of colleagues on both coasts and abroad.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the AIDS / HIV charity of one’s choice.

A celebration of Dan’s life will be held at Havurah Synagogue in Ashland, Oregon at 4pm (Pacific Time) August 6.

Havurah Classes and Services Zoom Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83221820599?pwd=MzVSRU5YYjZTWlJaYSt4dVJIVnNUUT09

Meeting info
Meeting ID: 832 2182 0599
Passcode: 413836

Lives of the Liners: Malolo-Queen Frederica

Written on August 6, 2025.

Lives of the Liners: Malolo-Queen Frederica
— by Bill Miller

After surviving a serious collision during her sea trials, this ship went on to induce far greater tourism to the Hawaiian islands. And later, in a career that spanned some fifty years, it successfully served other owners on a variety of passenger services.

Built for Matson Line’s San Francisco-Honolulu service, carrying up to 693 all-first class passengers, the 17,232-grt Malolo was refitted in 1937 and renamed Matsonia. Used as a troopship 1942-46, it resumed Hawaiian services 1946-48. Sold to the Home Lines and raising the Panamanian flag in 1948, it was renamed Atlantic for trans-Atlantic service. Sold to again in 1954, to the National Hellenic American Line (Greek flag), it was renamed Queen Frederica. Sold yet again, in 1965, to the Chandris Line (also Greek), it ran Atlantic crossings as well as Australian and around-the-world sailings. Last used as a cruise ship 1970-73, it was laid-up until catching fire when being scrapped in 1978. The remains were later demolished.

BAY AREA THEN AND MAKIBAKA: A LIVING LEGACY

Written on August 5, 2025.

Media Contacts:

David Perry / (415) 676-7007 / news@davidperry.com

Lauren Macmadu / (415) 350-1884 / lmacmadu@ybca.org

YBCA ANNOUNCES FULL SEASON OF FREE PROGRAMMING FOR EXHIBITIONS

BAY AREA THEN AND MAKIBAKA: A LIVING LEGACY

Monthly concerts, performances, festivals, talks, and film screenings

activate YBCA campus from August–December 2025

5 August 2025 – San Francisco, CA: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) today announced an expansive lineup of live events and community programming accompanying its recently opened exhibitions Bay Area Thenand MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy. From August through December 2025, YBCA’s downtown campus will come alive with concerts, festivals, talks, and film screenings that celebrate the Bay Area’s rich legacy of resistance and cultural innovation—while welcoming thousands of visitors for free experiences.

“At YBCA, we believe that exhibitions aren’t just something to look at—they’re something to live through,” said Mari Robles, CEO of YBCA. “This season’s programming opens our doors wide, inviting the public to gather, listen, dance, and imagine together.”

A key component of Bay Area Then is a dynamic series of monthly concerts held during San Francisco’s Downtown First Thursdays, when YBCA’s galleries at 701 Mission Street are open late and free to the public. Curated by Chris Johanson and Ethan Swan, the free series celebrates the artistic spirit of the Bay Area’s countercultures and artist communities.

2025 Music and Performance Lineup:

August 7: Cellski and DJ TC
September 4: Linton, and special guest to be announced
October 2: Mike Morasky + Kal Spelletich, and special guest to be announced
November 6: Erica Dawn Lyle and Brontez Purnell
December 4: Ovarian Trolley and Wife

“This series brings together both contemporary performers and artists deeply connected to the Bay Area’s history of creative resistance,” said Eungie Joo, Bay Area ThenGuest Curator. “Drawing on the rich intersections of music, visual art, and performance, the spirit of the exhibition—its experimentation, irreverence, and sense of community—runs through every performance.”

MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy, presented by SOMA Pilipinas, in collaboration with YBCA, is activated by events that celebrate Filipino culture and history. Highlights include:

August 9–10: Pistahan Festival Weekend (11 AM–5 PM): A two-day celebration of Filipino culture featuring performances, art, and food in the heart of the Yerba Buena neighborhood. Included in the events is an unveiling and celebration of Mark Baugh-Sasaki’s sculpture Lighthouse, installed on YBCA’s plaza on Mission Street at 2pm on Saturday, August 9.
August 13: Talk with Historian MC Canlas (1–3 PM): Learn about the history of the Mock Battle of Manila Bay and its enduring impact.
Second Sundays: Free Film Screenings (Monthly): Each month, YBCA will host free screenings of films and documentaries exploring the stories of the Filipino community in San Francisco and across the Bay Area.

“MAKIBAKA is more than an exhibition—it’s a living expression of the Filipino community’s creativity and resilience,” said Raquel Redondiez, SOMA Pilipinas Director. “From Pistahan to monthly film screenings, this programming reflects the power of art to honor our past while shaping our future.”

Together, Bay Area Then and MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy represent one of YBCA’s most ambitious curatorial undertakings in recent years—bringing together more than 40 visual artists, monthly concerts, festivals, and talks to foster vibrant public exchange. Additional programming will be announced this fall, further expanding the season’s offerings and inviting the public into even more opportunities for connection.

YBCA Programs are made possible in part by Blue Shield of California, the City and County of San Francisco, Yerba Buena Gardens Conservancy, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Bloomberg Philanthropies, Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, James R. Lilienthal Trust, California Arts Council, Yerba Buena Community Benefit District, Amy and Hannah Eliot, Tides Foundation, Farhang Foundation, Peter Rigano and Cody Hicks, Malia Simonds, Alan Seiffert, Katie Colendich, Peter Schumann and Rob Wullenjohn, Vicky Shipkowitz, John Bankston and Robert Goodman and YBCA Members.

For more information visit www.ybca.org.

About YBCA:
Opened to the public in 1993, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (YBCA) was founded as the cultural anchor of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Gardens neighborhood. Our work spans the realms of contemporary art, performance, film, civic engagement, and public life. By centering artists as essential to social and cultural movement, YBCA is reimagining the role an arts institution can play in the communities it serves. For more information, visit ybca.org.

YBCA is open Wednesday through Sundayfrom 11:00am to 5:00pm. General admission is $10, and $5 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased in person or reserved in advance at ybca.org. Admission is free every Wednesday and on the second Sunday of each month.

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Rainbow Honor Walk honoree James Baldwin

Written on August 2, 2025.

Rainbow Honor Walk honoree James Baldwin

Today on the anniversary of his birth, we celebrate the life and legacy of Rainbow Honor Walk honoree James Baldwin (August 2, 1924 – December 1, 1987). A towering figure in American literature, Baldwin’s essays, novels, and plays explored themes of race, sexuality, and identity with an unflinching honesty that continues to resonate. As a Black gay man, his voice broke barriers and inspired generations to confront prejudice and embrace truth. His works, including Go Tell It on the Mountain, Giovanni’s Room, and The Fire Next Time, remain timeless calls for justice and understanding.

Read Dr. Bill Lipsky’s tribute at the link below in SF Bay Times.

#RainbowHonorWalk #JamesBaldwin #LGBTQHistory #BlackQueerVoices #JamesBaldwinLegacy