Legendary Humboldt journalist Dave Silverbrand has passed away

EUREKA, Calif. — The North Coast community has lost a broadcast television icon.

Legendary Humboldt County reporter, Dave Silverbrand, died Friday morning in Eureka.

"Dave passed away peacefully at 8:55 a.m. at St. Joseph Hospital with his lovely wife by his side," Jone Kosack, a very close friend of Silverbrand's said.

Silverbrand's wife, Maria Medina, said she was holding Dave when he took his last breath after spending 16 days in the hospital.

"He left very calmly. I was holding him in my arms when he stopped breathing. He knew I was there with him; I was talking to him and holding his hand. He went peacefully," a heartbroken Medina said in tears.

Medina was with Silverbrand in the hospital where he spent Christmas and New Year before passing of congestive heart failure, a condition he suffered with for several years,Kosack said.

"I was very lucky to have Dave as a very close friend," Kosack said. "Lots of laughs and lots of loves. He was a guy that I couldn't miss a conversation with. We spoke every single day."

Close friends Eddie Wilson and Nazy Javid spent time with Silverbrand and Medina on New Year's Eve, capturing the final photo taken of Silverbrand on Dec. 31 before his passing on Jan, 6. He was 76.

"My husband and I just visited him five days ago in the hospital, and he was excited to start the new year and get back to reporting... and now he's left this earth. We didn't expect this. We were there when the father came to pray. It was shocking and raw when we realized he may not bounce back this time. Today hurts," Javid said.

A funeral mass will be held Friday, Jan. 13 at 1 p.m. at St. Bernard Catholic Church, located at615 H Street in Eureka.

Loved ones are also planning a celebration of life service that will be announced in the coming days.

News Director Nazy Javid was thrilled when Silverbrand joined KAEF ABC 23 in 2019, following a long career as a journalist for other radio and TV stations, including KIEM News Channel 3.

His former KIEM News Director, Manny Machado called Dave "a gentle giant."

"His passion wasn’t to be first to a story, but to tell the full story," Machado said. "Dave had a unique way of reporting. Each story was different, and you didn’t know what you were going to get until airing. Dave will be certainly missed. A true television icon. This is a sad day for the North Coast.”

Throughout his career Silverbrand was also a local freelance columnist, college instructor and author.

"He was so much fun to be around," Javid said. "We even spent time on the weekends together just enjoying life. He had a way of seeing the good in everything. He was so grateful for the small things. He believed in God and that nothing in life happens by accident. I just learned so much from him."

"Dave worked harder than everyone; he never took no for an answer; and he always had a smile on his face. His storytelling style was so unique," Javid said. "He could get anyone to talk to him. That was one of his many skills."

"Before he worked at KAEF, I used to watch him on the competition, and I ran into him at the mall once. I had a total 'fan girl' moment and asked if I could take a photo with him. He was so kind to me, even though we worked at competing TV stations. So as you can imagine, I was thrilled when he chose to come work with us at North Coast News TV. I learned so much from him. We went through a lot together. After his brother passed away, he had no living blood relatives left, and we became family."

"Reporting was Silverbrand's passion, and he was so grateful to continue living his dream until the end of his life," Javid said. "He was the best storyteller. People trusted him. They loved him. Our team loved him. Our family loved him. I loved him. So much," Javid added.

The North Coast News team mourned the newsof Silverbrand's passing as they prepared a special broadcast for the 6 p.m. newscast Friday.

"Dave was a fearless storyteller on every sense of the word. He loved meeting new people regardless of their background, and sharing their stories with the world," KAEF News Manager Michael Patterson said. Now his stories will live on with all of us that knew him."

WATCH NEWS CLIP: