Minister, teacher, loving patriarch

Howard Rosine, a longtime Claremont resident, died at home on April 15, 2015, surrounded by friends and family. He was 91.

He was born on June 28, 1923 in South Pasadena to Howard Myron Rosine and Emily Sophia Besse. He was drafted into the military in World War II and was stationed, among other locations, in Oregon. He later said it rained every day for the nine months he was there.  Mr. Rosine attended Occidental College in Eagle Rock and Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, where he obtained a Bachelor of Divinity degree and met his wife Alice. The couple was married in 1948 and had three children, Art, Julia and Norman.

Mr. Rosine was a Methodist minister for 15 years, serving churches in Lomita, San Diego and Bishop. He received a master’s degree from the Claremont School of Theology. After moving to Claremont, he became a chemistry instructor, teaching at El Monte, Rosemead and Mountain View high schools. He later taught electronics courses at Rio Hondo College.

Mr. Rosine had great empathy for people who were financially disadvantaged. He owned properties in Claremont and often housed struggling families and helped them find employment. During his retirement, he spent much of his time working on projects for Habitat for Humanity. He was also a founding member of the “Rusty Nails” group at his church.

Mr. Rosine, who began each morning with Bible study before eating breakfast, remained extremely active at Claremont United Methodist Church. He was head of the church’s board of trustees for many years and visited the sick and the elderly, bringing them communion. He participated in a creative writing class as well as other study groups staying intellectually active in his old-age. He also served as a beacon, standing in front of the church on Sunday mornings to greet people, with an umbrella shading him from the sun. Mr. Rosine remained dedicated to his post, welcoming the congregation from his wheelchair until shortly before his death.

His family and friends gave him a fitting send-off, painting the cardboard cremation casket and decorating it with photographs of Howard and messages to him.

“It was a very sweet, very healing thing, and the ministers were fine with it. It was like sending out little prayer flags,” his daughter-in-law Marsha said.

Mr. Rosine was preceded in death by his wife Alice, who died in 2008 two months short of their 60th wedding anniversary. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Art and Marsha Rosine, by his daughter Julia Lawson, by his son Norman “Yehuda” Rosine and by his honorary daughter Maria Alfonso. He also leaves grandchildren Jennifer Devore, Andrew King, Sharon McCusker, Sophie Castle-Arriaga, Chava Marshak, Chaya Feige Miller, Avraham Rosine, Sara Lebovitz, Tirza Berger, Devora Rachel Shai, Shaina Komsky, Aharon Rosine, Elisheva Weiss and Schlomo Zalman Rosine  as well as 24 great-grandchildren.

A service for Mr. Rosine will be held on Saturday, April 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Claremont United Methodist Church, 211 W. Foothill Blvd. in Claremont.