Grandfather, CHS teacher for 41 years, athlete

On Saturday, November 23, 2024, Robert (Bob) Fredrick Shamah, died peacefully at the age of 85 in his beloved Claremont home, whilst in the care of his son, Matthew Shamah.

Bob was born on June 7, 1939, in Brooklyn, New York to Josephine Peshla and Fredrick Shamah. After attending Tenafly High School in New Jersey, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and proudly served his country in Germany for four years. Upon completion of his military duty, he earned his B.A. from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. He became a lover of philosophy and history, and his compassion and curiosity about the human experience led him to become an educator who focused on expanding and challenging the minds of his students.

He spent the majority of his career teaching world history, philosophy and the controversial class, family of man, at Claremont High School, where he challenged the boundaries of conventional classroom practices by advocating for the personal growth of his students. “Bob’s passion for learning and human connection inspired his students to think critically about the world around them and had a positive impact on the lives of innumerable young people,” his family shared. From 1967 until 2008, well over 6,000 students passed through his classroom. In addition to teaching, he found meaning and purpose by coaching the Claremont High School girls junior varsity tennis team.

During his career, he also earned an M.A. at Azusa Pacific University. After his retirement, he furthered his education by auditing classes at the Claremont Colleges, regularly adding his unique perspective and experience to the discussion of diverse subject matter.

He was passionate about athletics. “Bob was an avid tennis, basketball player and swimmer, and spent most afternoons and Saturday mornings at the Claremont Tennis Club where he showed off his playful sense of humor and remarkable ability to connect with people through sport,” his family said. But first and foremost, he was a runner. In his earlier years, he completed a handful of marathons and could often be seen running up Mountain Avenue into the hilly meadows above Claremont.

One of his greatest joys was getting to be a grandfather. “His granddaughter, Lucy, describes him as playful, happy, fun, intelligent and kind, and his warmth brightened the lives of those around him,” his family added. “Bob was always willing to access his inner child and enjoyed embellishing bedtime stories and leading guided imageries.”

He is survived by his previous partners, Dorthy Shamah and Marianna Giordano; brothers Donald and Wayne Robertson; children Christina, Sarah, and Matthew Shamah; and grandchildren Ethan Carmichael and Lucy Proctor-Shamah.

A viewing will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, December 9 at Todd Memorial Chapel, 570 N. Garey Ave., Pomona, CA 91767. Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 10 at Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church, 435 N. Berkeley Ave., Claremont, CA 91711, followed by a 1 p.m. funeral service at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside, CA 92518.