By Dalton Lee, Baldwin Wallace ’11
Dave and Syd at their anniversary dinner.
Famed globetrotting chef, Anthony Bourdain, once said, “There’s no place on Earth even remotely like New Orleans. Don’t even try to compare it to anywhere else.” Any city that could evoke such conviction from someone who has been to the farthest reaches of this world, undoubtedly earns its place in the pantheon of all-time greats. This cultural melting pot is famed for unique twists on music, art, food, and lifestyle. So, it comes as no surprise that a young man from Northeast, Ohio would find himself so enamored with the city of New Orleans that he engrained himself within the very fabric of this southern oasis.
For Dr. Dave Mulnick, Baldwin Wallace ’70, it was love of a New Orleans native that first brought him to the city. Mulnick and his wife, Syd, have lived in the city for over 40 years. The couple have three children: Rob, Piper, and Erin, and five grandchildren: Ricky, Virginia, Brandon, Alyssa, and Jaxon. To say that Mulnick has embedded himself within the community in New Orleans would be a drastic understatement. He serves as a member of several boards and educational institutions, most notably the past President of Gates of Prayer, a Reform Jewish Congregation. Outside of volunteer work, Mulnick spent 40 years in private practice and is now the Director of Audiology and Assistive Technology for the ReNEW School System. His work in the field of audiology and speech reading can be seen across countless lectures, consultation, and scientific papers. While family, work, and volunteering might seem like a full plate to some, Mulnick has another deep seeded passion, and it’s rooted in one of the city's oldest traditions. Stemming from an initial fascination with Carnival upon moving to the city, Mulnick is the current captain of one of the longest running Mardi Gras Krewes—now over 70 years old. Not only is he the leader of his own Krewe, but he also helps with various others, writing and narrating Carnival Bal masques and parades. This passion for the Carnival and Mardi Gras traditions have been parlayed into extensive lectures on the subjects, published articles and papers, numerous appearances on radio, and featurettes on several national and international television documentaries and films on Mardi Gras.
Mulnick serving as Captain of his Krewe.
Mulnick’s route to Mardi Gras royalty first took him to Baldwin Wallace University, known at the time as Baldwin-Wallace College, where he joined the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. Although there were a variety of fraternities on the campus, Mulnick found ours to be the most accepting and fun-loving. Still holding on to many of the friendships made, he said that his time within the fraternity was one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. While an undergraduate member of our organization, Mulnick also played football under head coach, Lee Tressel, and alongside starting quarterback, Jim Tressel. Following the completion of his undergraduate studies, he did his master's and Ph.D. work at Kent State University, where he was both a Graduate Assistant and Teaching Fellow. Still not done with the world of academia, Mulnick also received an Au.D. (Doctor of Audiology) Degree from A.T. Still University - Arizona School of Health Sciences. Of all the accomplishments in the life of Dr. Dave Mulnick—which there are plenty—one that he holds most dear is his work with children. Among other charitable work, his organization picks a Prince and Princess every year to be written into the coronation and given their own float within the Mardi Gras parade. If I knew a famous New Orleans saying to give the proper credit due to our immensely accomplished alumnus, this is where I would put it, unfortunately I do not. So, I’ll simply say congratulations on all your successes, and we are proud to have you as a member of our organization.