Mother, wife, grandmother, children’s advocate, CEO, actor, singer, comedian, artist

Cheryllynne “Cher” Ofstedahl, 63, of Claremont, died from a sudden illness on February 4. Cher was born on November 7, 1962, in Riverside, California to Donald Gene McNeal and Patricia Nanmcy Garrett Condon McNeal.

She grew up in Riverside with her brother Donald McNeal, and graduated from Rubidoux High School before starting a lifetime of education, including degrees from the University of Arizona, and Claremont Lincoln University, and certificates from Harvard, Cornell, University of Indiana, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

She married Lawrence “Larry” Leal on July 11, 2010. The couple had reconnected in 2009, thirty-one years after they dated in high school. “Their marriage was the envy of all who knew them,” her family shared. She and Larry both loved theater and took numerous trips to New York to catch the latest Broadway productions.

The couple have a blended family of four daughters. “Cher’s Alexandra and Larry’s Devin, Julina and Morgan were loved and cherished by Cher,” her family said. “Cher was a devoted mother, wife, and grandmother, and she always said her most proud accomplishment was her daughter, Alexandra.”

She was the chief executive officer of Claremont’s Trinity Youth Services and the Children’s Foundation of America, which she co-founded in 2006. Trinity’s programs include foster care, residential treatment, mental health, unaccompanied minors, and adoption services. She worked for the organizations for 28 years, leading the departments of advancement, human resources, programs, and finance. She rose to the level of chief operating officer, and in 2020 became the CEO of both. In the past year CFA served more than 6,000 foster and at-risk children and 32 child serving agencies.

She was a fierce advocate for children who were abused, neglected or abandoned. “Having been abused as a child, Cher emancipated herself from her family at the age of 16,” her family said. “However, she was incredibly resilient and positive, and channeled her pain into positive outcomes for children. Cher wore the descriptor, ‘Pollyanna’ with great pride, calling herself that word at every opportunity.”

Having studied acting, she performed in various productions over the years. She loved singing in musicals, and later in life became a stand-up comic, performing in clubs throughout Southern California. To benefit CFA, she began an annual comedy show, “Funny for a Reason,” and recruited top comedians who volunteered their time. In December 2025 she had a leading role in an Ophelia’s Jump production of “It’s A Wonderful Life.” “She was in her element and was praised by all,” her family said.

“Everyone liked Cher and she liked everyone,” her family said. “She was always positive, upbeat, and forward looking. To a person, her friends, family, and colleagues will tell you that she was the smartest person they had ever met. Her intelligence shined, but with an equal part of emotional intelligence. She was kind, caring, and empathetic. She was an advocate of the underdog, the marginalized and the rejected. She took in strays, whether a person who needed help or a dog or cat that needed rescuing. She had an incredible capacity to love.

“She was an excellent writer and loved to play with words. If one needed a name for a business, an event, a work of art, a name for a pet, or a catchy acronym, Cher was your person. She would coin names for things she did, calling working with budgets and financial statements, ‘math magic.’ For the Children’s Foundation annual tea fundraiser in spring, she came up with the name ‘ChariTea.’

“Cher was also an artist, making jewelry and creating small sculptural figures out of found objects. She had a very distinct style and a collection of colorful purses and jewelry. She would tell you with that playful smile that she was like a crow — she loved bright shiny objects. Cher also hosted the Vintage Flea Market at Claremont Heritage.”

She was involved in her community, and served on the board of directors of Claremont Heritage, the dA Center for the Arts, and as a member of the City of Claremont’s Committee on Human Relations. She was a board member of the California Association of Child and Family Services, the Association of Community Human Services Agencies, and on the National Commission for the Child Welfare League of America.

She is survived by her husband, Larry; daughters Alexandra, Devin, Julina and Morgan; grandchildren, Jack, Henry, and Dean, who will miss their “GiGi,”; her brother Donald McNeal, and his wife Vanna; nephews Devon, Duran, and Chirs; and ex-husband Brian Ofstedahl and his partner Ruben Lopez.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14 at Scripps College’s Garrison Theater 231 E. 10^th St., Claremont, CA 91711.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Children’s Foundation of America at childrensfoundationofamerica.org.