Attorney, philanthropist, Claremonter

A celebration of life for Claremont attorney and philanthropist Herb Hafif will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday November 3, at the concert gardens at the Hafif estate. Mr. Hafif died October 20. He was 89.
After graduating from Claremont High School, Mr. Hafif attended Pomona College, completing his studies there in 1953. Law school followed and in 1956 he earned his JD from the University of Southern California. He opened his Claremont law practice in 1958.
Mr. Hafif, along with his friend Walter Boldig, opened the original Walter’s Restaurant in the 1950s. Mr. Hafif was developing the property on Yale Avenue with a classmate Wagy Hendricks, the namesake of Hendricks Pharmacy.
The original Walter’s Coffee Shop and the pharmacy stood next door to each other on Yale and Third (now Bonita Avenue). The Law Offices of Herb Hafif still operate at that location today.
Nangy and Fahima Ghafarshad purchased the restaurant from their dear friend in 1973, as reported in a previous COURIER article.
At the 50th anniversary celebration for Walter’s in 2007, Mr. Ghafarshad shared his gratitude to Mr. Hafif for helping to bring their family to the United States when Russia invaded Afghanistan in 1979.
Mr. Hafif’s generosity extended beyond just his friends and family. In the late 1980s, he and his wife Kay established the Hafif Family Foundation, which has since made more than $20 million in charitable donations.
Mr. Hafif is survived by his wife of 57 years, Kay; his sons, Greg and Ruston; and four grandchildren.