Malibu resident David Spivak, known by friends and family as The Maven, died Feb. 23 at Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. He was 97.
Spivak was one of eight brothers. He was the first of the four born in the United States; the other four brothers were born in Russia prior to that. Spivak’s younger brother, Lou, is the only surviving one. The 91-year-old lives in Houston, Texas.
Spivak was in the shoe business for 55 years. He designed and manufactured the jeweled sandal and later owned Pro Specs athletic shoes. Spivak opened shoe stores countrywide, and most of his brothers worked for him at some point in their lives.
Spivak told lots of jokes and was a storyteller. Friends say he was usually the life of the party.
Spirvak is survived by his daughter, Elayne Rubenstein, grandchildren, Jay, Bob and Lynne Rubenstein, and great-grandchildren, Rachel, Julie, Brian and Hugh.