Grandfather, active, longtime Claremonter was married 66 years

Longtime Claremont resident Tom Deno died June 8, joining his wife Diane on “the great walking path in the sky,” his family shared.

Both Tom and Diane were avid walkers, often seen on the Thompson Creek trail in northern Claremont. They had been married 66 years at the time of her death in 2019. He died just shy of his 90th birthday.

Born in Spokane, Washington, he married his high school sweetheart, then served two years on active duty with the U.S. Navy.  After graduating from Gonzaga University with an engineering degree, he took a job with the Pomona division of General Dynamics and moved to Claremont.

General Dynamics was his employer for 32 years.

He was an active member of the Claremont community, and was involved with the local Boy Scout troop as scoutmaster for many years. He went on to train scout troop leaders as part of the Wood Badge program.

He and his family were active members of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic parish.

Upon retirement, he was a founding member of the Claremont Senior Computer Club, serving as its president for eight years.

He was an avid bicyclist and a member of the Claremont Senior Bicycle Club. He could be seen riding his recumbent bicycle in the annual Claremont Fourth of July parade with other club members.

He also enjoyed running (he ran in several L.A. Marathons), stargazing, birding, and researching his family’s genealogy.

He was an enrolled member of the Coeur d’ Alene Indian Tribe.

He is survived by his older brother William Deno of Boulder, Colorado; sons Kevin Duffy-Deno of San Diego, and Brian Deno of Vancouver, Washington; daughter Susan Deno of Claremont; and two granddaughters.

There will be no memorial service. “Instead, please remember Tom (and Diane) the next time you can look up at the night sky and gaze upon the heavens,” his family said.