By The Scene staff
Mason Dare, a Forest Park student and business manager for The Scene student newspaper, died on Sunday at his home in Brentwood. He was 23.
Dare had been taking classes at St. Louis Community College since 2021. He joined the newspaper staff at the beginning of fall semester, running the office and managing the website.
“We will miss him so much,” said Faculty Adviser Teri Maddox. “He was an enthusiastic and dependable employee and just an all-around good guy.”
When needed, Dare stepped in as a reporter and photographer, and he excelled at it, despite no experience or training, Maddox said. In one case, he and two co-workers rushed down the street to cover a shooting and ended up posting a comprehensive report before other St. Louis news organizations.
Dare wrote stories on a water-main break at Forest Park and problems with campus door locks. He also commandeered the Campus Chatter beat for a couple of issues.
“Mason could talk to anyone, whether it be a housekeeping employee or the college president,” Maddox said. “Many young reporters are shy or reluctant to approach strangers at first, but not Mason. I called him the ‘recruitment king’ because of his success in getting students to join our staff.”
Dare had planned to follow in the footsteps of his mother, Katherine Miller, and pursue a career in banking, according to his bio on the newspaper’s website. He wanted to transfer to a four-year university and major in finance after completing his associate’s degree at Forest Park.
Dare formerly worked as a facility manager at an ice rink. He enjoyed watching hockey and other sports, playing golf and reading.
“Mason was a vivacious spirit who embraced life with an amazing smile that could light up any room,” his obituary stated on the website of Bopp Chapel in Kirkwood. “Mason loved animals and we had a house full of fish, gerbils, dogs and our most recent addition of his new cat, Misty.
“From the tender age of three, Mason found joy on the ice. He was a proud ‘Falcon’ and ‘Rocket’ and continued to play hockey throughout high school as a ‘Red Devil.’ Mason also found a love of fishing and sailing on our many family trips to Ocean Reef.
“Mason was a fourth-generation student at Villa Duchesne/Oak Hill School and spent seven fabulous years at Chaminade. He was known for his larger than life smile, a big heart, overwhelming kindness and generous nature.”
Dare died in his sleep, according to his mother. The cause of death is unknown. He also is survived by his father, Titus Dare, and brother, Houston Dare, as well as many other family members and friends.
A visitation will be held from 4-8 p.m. Friday at Bopp Chapel, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Saturday at Immacolata Catholic Church in Richmond Heights. Dare’s family asks that people consider a donation to the Humane Society of Missouri in lieu of flowers.