Beloved matriarch, teacher, musician, was married 76 years

Longtime Claremont resident Eileen Deem Jaeger died August 3 at the age of 99.

She was predeceased in January 2022 by her husband of 76 years, Chester E. Jaeger, and her sister, Eva Trembly.

She is survived by her children, Barbara (Michael) Cash, of Modesto, California, Jeri Jaeger, of Buffalo, New York, April (Michael) Floyd, of Austin, George (Cyndy) Jaeger, of San Dimas, and Holly (Billy) Proulx, of Claremont. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren, Sean and Gregory Cash, Anna, Alice, and Bob Van Valin, Simeon, Hannah, and Joel Floyd, Heidi, Hans, and Hayden Jaeger, Jordan Hine, and Dusty and Casey Proulx. Furthermore she is survived by 27 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and multiple grandsons- and granddaughters-in law.

“She will be remembered by family, friends, and former students for her kindness, wisdom, and generosity,” her family shared.

Mrs. Jaeger was born Virginia Eileen Deem on June 25, 1925, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, to Elbert and Barbara Deem. She grew up in Parkersburg as well as on her grandparents’ farms in Mineral Wells, West Virginia, “where she grew into a beautiful, gentle, spirited, and strong young lady,” her family said. For her college years she moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where she attended the University of North Carolina. While there she participated in a USO program entertaining GIs in the basement of her church, playing piano and dancing with the men. “As the story goes, in 1944, a handsome young GI who was playing the trumpet in an impromptu band needed someone to hold his music, and Eileen volunteered; they hit it off immediately, and when Chet returned from overseas, they were married on January 13, 1946, in the church where they met,” her family recalled.

Chet was a long-time Claremont resident; he moved to Claremont in 1931 at age 7 with his parents Dr. Chester G. and Freda Jaeger. Dr. Jaeger was a mathematics and computers professor at Pomona College and Claremont Graduate School (now Claremont Graduate University) and was mayor and a City Council member of Claremont during the 1950s and ‘60s. Freda was an artist and elementary school teacher. The couple moved to Claremont after their wedding, and in 1951 bought a house on Green Street, where all five of their children grew up, going to Oakmont Elementary, Claremont Junior High (now El Roble Intermediate School), and Claremont High. Mr. Jaeger was hired as a math teacher at Chaffey High School in Ontario, where he taught for 33 years. When their youngest child began kindergarten in 1959, she returned to her college training, earning her BA and teaching credential at LA State (now Cal State LA). She then began a 24 year career as a much beloved teacher at Mountain View Elementary school, teaching primarily fourth grade, directing the glee club, and teaching guitar lessons. “She was well known for her dedication, intelligence, creativity, and her devotion to her students, many of whom stayed in touch with her for years afterwards,” her family said. During this time she developed the hobbies of copper enameling, birding, and bowling. Following in their parents’ and grandparents’ footsteps, well over half of their children and grandchildren have gone into education as a profession. In 1978 the City of Claremont dedicated a neighborhood park in the name of Dr. Jaeger and his family.

In 1964 the family bought a parcel of land on Alamosa Drive in Claremont, and built a house there as a family summer project. She and her husband lived in this house for nearly 60 years. In this house their children became teenagers, participating not only in scholastic events at Claremont High, but also in singing, dance, musical theater, orchestra, band, track, and football. Their parents were faithful followers of their children’s activities.

Also during this time her husband’s Dixieland jazz band, the Night Blooming Jazzmen, began to really take off, and many of their activities revolved around the band, which played at jazz festivals all around California, the Claremont Fourth of July parade, and Claremont summer music programs in Memorial Park. They both retired from teaching at age 60 so they could devote full-time to the band. “While Chet played and cracked jokes onstage, Eileen managed sales of records, tapes, CDs, DVDs, and t-shirts,” her family said. She traveled with the band around the U.S. when it played on river boats up the Mississippi and at jazz festivals in many states including Alaska. She also went overseas with the band when it played in Germany, Holland, Austria, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand, and on a riverboat up the Amazon. “However, Eileen showed her independence by buying a red Pontiac Firebird as a retirement gift to herself,” her family said.

The couple were founding members of Claremont Presbyterian Church, and both continued to sing in its choir into their 90s. “The Alamosa home became famous for its many birthday, church, and jazz parties, where Eileen was the gracious and generous hostess,” her family said.  “Over the years, many family members and family friends needed a place to stay for weeks, months, or even years, and Eileen and Chet always graciously opened their home to them. As their family grew, they continued to go to events in which their grandchildren participated; even this past year Eileen continued to enjoy plays in which her oldest great-granddaughter Zoe Hine performed.”

The couple began hosting Christmas sings on Green Street in the 1950s, where family and friends were invited to join them singing Christmas carols and eating Christmas cookies on December 23. This tradition continued at the Alamosa Drive house. “Cookie baking became a family event lasting months, Eileen would play the piano at the sing, and the Jaeger Family Brass Band would play for arriving guests,” her family said. They hosted this event into their 90s.

They were about to celebrate their 76th wedding anniversary when her husband died at home in January 2022. She was able to stay in their home until three weeks before she died, with the loving care of her grandson and wife, Jordan and Dawn Hine, and daughters Holly, April, and Jeri. More than 60 people, representing most of her family, gathered at her home to wish her well on her 98th birthday in June 2023. “As always, Eileen was the kind and gracious hostess, holding and smiling at all the babies, telling all her grandchildren how proud she was of them, and beaming at her children as they created a feast for the family,” her family said. “She was the heart and soul of her family, her love and strength holding us together through all the highs and lows over the years, and will be forever fondly remembered and greatly missed by everyone who knew her.”

A memorial service honoring both Eileen and Chet Jaeger will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 5 at Claremont Presbyterian Church, 1111 N. Mountain Ave., Claremont 91711. The service will be livestreamed on the church’s website at claremontpres.org, and Facebook page at facebook.com/claremontpres.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Claremont Presbyterian Church at claremontpres.org/giving-2, The Christian Appalachian Project at christianapp.org, or the Society for the Preservation of Dixieland Jazz, with information available at spdj.org.