Mother, adventurer, Ironman athlete, traveler

Roberta “Bobbi” Pollock, 91, of Claremont, died peacefully in her sleep on March 10, from natural causes.

Born on May 25, 1932, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Robert and Velma Reaser, Bobbi was raised in Roanoke, Indiana, alongside her identical twin sister Peggy and younger brother Dan. Her childhood was shaped by the Great Depression and World War II, but she found joy in the outdoors, particularly swimming and protecting her sister from any trouble. They shared a love for adventure, attending the University of Hawaii together, where they discovered their passion for surfing and crafted their own surfboards. “Though miles apart as adults, the twin sisters shared an unbreakable bond that only grew stronger with time,” her family shared. “Through constant communication, heartfelt visits, and a profound understanding of each other’s hearts, they proved that true connection knows no distance.”

She was adventurous, and sailed with friends from Hawaii to Long Beach. In 1966, she married Bruce Pollock in Pasadena, and together they had one son, Kevin. The family moved to Claremont in 1977, where the couple owned and operated A-Kline Chocolatier for many years before retiring in 1998.

“Prior to her retirement she volunteered at Chino Prison, where she read the Bible to inmates, offering them spiritual support and hope,” her family said. “Through her efforts, many accepted Christ as their Savior.”

She sustained a ruptured disc and pinched sciatic nerves in a car crash at the age of 50. “Doctors told her, ‘You will never arch your back again,’ but our Heavenly Father healed her, and she went on to run and compete for his glory. In 1986, at age 54, she quit smoking after decades of addiction to three packs a day, thanks to the deliverance of our Heavenly Father.”

Over the next 21 years, she ran, swam, and biked, successfully competing in 17 Ironman races, including six Hawaii Ironman events — her last at age 75. In one memorable moment, during the world’s toughest triathlon in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, she was struggling to push her bike up a steep hill. Her son Kevin, driving beside her, said, “If you don’t want to finish, keep pushing your bike.” In intense pain, she hopped back on her bike and made the cutoff time for the bike portion and then continued to finish the run under the full moon.

In her golden years, she remained vibrant and active, finding joy in gardening, walking her dogs, traveling, and hiking. “She was an inspiration to everyone she encountered, leaving a lasting impression with her warmth and zest for life,” her family added. She spent most summers in Kauai visiting her twin sister, where they would swim with turtles and dolphins and spend the days on the beach.

She is survived by her son, Kevin.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. this Friday, November 15, at Claremont United Church of Christ, 233 Harrison Ave., Claremont, CA 91711.

Her family remembered her thusly:

“Bobbi will be remembered for her resilience, love of animals especially her dogs Spunky and Flash, her love of family, and lasting impact of all who knew her … She always ‘found a way.’”