Dale Burnett Mann passed away unexpectedly Monday, June 10, 2024 in Rancho Bernardo. He was 73 years of age.

Dale was born in San Diego, California on June 20, 1950 to Edna May (Mc Dermand) Mann and Walter Preston Mann II. He grew up in La Jolla and San Carlos and graduated from Crawford High School in 1968. He was a gifted and talented illustrator and nurtured a deep appreciation for the arts. He attended Grossmont Junior College earning an Associate of Arts Degree, later attending California State University, San Diego majoring in graphic design with a minor in business administration. Deciding to pursue other entrepreneurial endeavors in 1974, Dale ventured out on his own to establish a retail art supplies business in Escondido known as Vintage Arts. He developed long-lasting friendships with many young, aspiring and accomplished artists during his years at Vintage Arts, friendships he cherished until his passing. So meaningful were these relationships, Dale organized a thirty-year Vintage Arts reunion in 2015 to gather his artist friends together to display their art, to reminisce and to share updates on their life challenges, successes and creative pursuits.

Following his retail success with Vintage Arts, Dale developed a new retail program providing unique and creative products designed specifically for small to medium-size museum gift shops and historical societies, incorporating graphic design and illustration. He designed and produced products for the Maritime Museum, the San Diego History Center, the Coronado Historical Association, the La Jolla Historical Society and the Flying Leathernecks Aviation Museum.

His work with the Flying Leathernecks was especially dear to him. Over the past few years, Dale worked tirelessly to support the Aviation Museum and gift shop, working to enhance the shop's display and marketing capabilities and by developing timeless gifts representative of the important work conducted by the Marine Corps Aviation Association and the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation. Most recently, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Foundation and was actively involved in helping to preserve the Museum's extraordinary aircraft collection. The plans to relocate the Aviation Museum to Great Park in Irvine was an exciting undertaking, one Dale relished and he contributed his expertise to the effort, in concert with his Foundation and Museum colleagues and staff. And in working to preserve the heritage of aviation and to educate young people in the process, Dale helped to develop the Student Art Contest, a platform for students to learn about aviation history through artistic expression. The 2024 Marines in Flight Contest was a success and the contestants, student awards ceremony and reception brought him great joy.

Dale made friends easily throughout his life, and he especially enjoyed the Flying Leathernecks community of friends. And he looked forward to the new fellowship of friends he developed with the B&B Group, a weekly gathering of retired fighter pilots and veterans. They met every Friday at The Remington in Rancho Bernardo to share their common experiences. And his dear and lasting friendships on Pequot Drive in Poway, in Ramona, Stonebridge and Lakeside always gave him pause as he often reflected on being a neighbor, a friend and a companion. He remained so appreciative of all the people in his circle of life.

Dale is survived by his loving sister, Linda Lee Mann-Urmacher, brother-in-law, Carlos D. Urmacher, M.D., nephews J Anders Urmacher, Ammon Mann, Adam Mann, and Walter P. Mann IV, nieces Jane Mann and Heather (Mann) King and their extended families, and his dear friend, Shirley. Dale was predeceased by his parents and by his brother, Walter P. Mann III. He will be lovingly missed. Burial is planned at Dearborn Memorial Park in Poway, California.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks friends and colleagues to consider donating to the Flying Leatherneck Historical Foundation at Flyingleathernecks.org