Dennis McCarbery: 1939-2005
Dennis McCarbery passed away October 12, 2025, in Murrieta. He was 86 years old.
A Los Angeles native, Dennis retired in 2003 after a decade as State and Federal Legislative Representative for the Port of Los Angeles. During his career, he was a reporter, sports editor and photo journalist, for the Palos Verdes Peninsula News and the South Bay Daily Breeze, and public information officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches. He also served as executive director of the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce and later as deputy for Los Angeles Councilman Joan Milke Flores.
Dennis was president of the Rotary Club of Wilmington in 2005-2006. He moved to Murrieta in 2008 where he joined the Rotary Club of Murrieta. He was a director and chair of the Public Relations Committee of the Murrieta Club for five years and served as Vocational Service Chair for two years. He is credited with bringing the Vocational Service Awards (honoring outstanding police, fire, education and health care workers) to Murrieta Rotary. He was part of the original group that brought the annual Murrieta Field of Honor to Murrieta.
In addition to Rotary, Dennis was in numerous civic organizations. He served as president of the Friends of Banning’s Landing Community Center, San Pedro Coordinating Council, Zonta Club of South Bay Area, San Pedro Harbor Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, South Bay Athletic Club, Cal State Dominquez Hills Alumni Association, Southwest Press Association and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Jaycees.
After graduating from Eagle Rock High School in 1957, Dennis joined the United States Navy where he attended Airman School and Aerial Photography School. He was flight deck and aerial photographer aboard the USS Hancock from 1958 to 1960. After leaving the Navy in 1960, he attended Glendale College, graduating in 1962. He moved to California State University Los Angeles where he graduated with a BA in Journalism in January 1966. He earned an MA in Administration from California State University Dominguez Hills in 1978.
Dennis is survived by his daughter, Cynthia Nordskog; four granddaughters and eight great granddaughters, four great grandsons and a great great grandson. He was preceded in death by wife, Lenna; his son, Michael, a grandson and granddaughter.
Memorial services for Dennis will be held at 10:15 am, Tuesday, November 4, at Riverside National Cemetery. Remembrances may be made to the charity of your choice or to the Murrieta Rotary Foundation, 25060 Hancock Avenue 103-365, Murrieta CA 92562.
Caption: Dennis McCarbery, 1939-2025
